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Women's Health Issues
January 2011

Perceptions of Male Knowledge and Support Among U.S. Women Obtaining Abortions

Rachel K. Jones,Guttmacher Institute
Ann M. Moore,Guttmacher Institute
Lori F. Frohwirth,Guttmacher Institute
The time is now. Will you stand up for reproductive health and rights?
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First published online: January 1, 2011

Purpose: At least one national study has shown that most women having abortions have consulted with male partners prior to terminating the pregnancy. However, little is known about the extent to which women perceive men to be supportive of their abortion decisions or which relationship characteristics are associated with male knowledge of and support for the abortion.


Methods: We used data from a nationally representative sample of 9,493 women obtaining abortions to examine perceptions of male knowledge and support for the abortion according to three relationship characteristics: Union status, length of relationship and exposure to intimate partner violence.


Main Findings: The overwhelming majority of women reported that the men with whom they got pregnant knew about the abortion, and most perceived these men to be supportive. Cohabiting and, to a lesser extent, married women as well as those in longer relationships were more likely to report both of these outcomes, even after controlling for demographic characteristics. Exposure to intimate partner violence by the man involved in the pregnancy, reported by 7% of abortion patients, substantially reduced the likelihood that women perceived the men to know about or to be supportive of the abortion. Conclusion: Our results suggest that most women obtaining abortions are able to rely on male partners for social support. Education and counseling efforts that incorporate or reach out to male partners may increase support for women obtaining abortions. However, this strategy may not be appropriate for all women, especially those exposed to intimate partner violence. 

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Topic

United States

  • Abortion

Geography

  • Northern America: United States
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