Characteristics of U.S. women having abortions, 1987

In 1987, as in earlier years, women having abortions were predominantly white (65 percent), younger than 25 (59 percent), and unmarried (82 percent). A majority had no previous live births (53 percent), and most had no previous abortions (58 percent). About half the abortions were performed before n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Family planning perspectives 1991-03, Vol.23 (2), p.75-81
Main Authors: Henshaw, S.K, Koonin, L.M, Smith, J.C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion
Abortion Applicants - statistics & numerical data
Adolescent
adolescents
Adult
age differences
Age Factors
Birth control
Birth rates
Demography
Family planning
Female
Humans
Induced abortion
Marital status
marriage
nationalities and ethnic groups
Population
Pregnancy
Single Person - statistics & numerical data
Single status
Single women
Social conditions
Statistics
United States
White people
Whites
Women
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Summary:In 1987, as in earlier years, women having abortions were predominantly white (65 percent), younger than 25 (59 percent), and unmarried (82 percent). A majority had no previous live births (53 percent), and most had no previous abortions (58 percent). About half the abortions were performed before nine weeks of gestation, and 97 percent were curettage procedures, usually suction curettage. Comparisons with 1980 data reveal a six percent decline in the U.S. abortion rate after changes in age, race and marital status within the population are controlled for; however, the decline occurred only among the white population and not among minority races. Among teenagers aged 15-19, the abortion rate declined slightly for whites and increased for minorities. The rate also increased among women younger than age 15.
ISSN:0014-7354
2325-5617
DOI:10.2307/2135453