Differences in abortion attitudes by policy context and between men and women in the World Values Survey.
Women Health
; 59(5): 465-480, 2019.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30257149
ABSTRACT
We explored whether abortion attitudes differed by respondents' sex and country-level abortion policy context. Data were collected between 2010 and 2014 from 69,901 respondents from 51 countries. Abortion attitudes were scored on a ten-point Likert scale (1 = "never justifiable"; 10 = "always justifiable"). Country-level abortion policy context was dichotomized as "less restrictive" or "more restrictive." We conducted linear regression modeling with cluster effects by country to assess whether respondents' sex and abortion policy context were associated with abortion attitudes, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. On average, women had more supportive abortion attitude scores than men (Mean = 3.38 SD = 2.76 vs. Mean = 3.24 SD = 2.82, p < .001). Respondents in countries with more restrictive policy contexts had less supportive attitudes than those in less restrictive contexts (Mean = 2.55 SD = 2.39 vs. Mean = 4.09 SD = 2.96, p < .001). In regression models, abortion attitudes were more supportive among women than men (b = 0.276, p < .001) and in less restrictive versus more restrictive countries (b = 0.611, p < .001). Younger, educated, divorced, non-religious, and employed respondents had more supportive scores (all p < .05). Systematic differences were observed in abortion attitudes by respondents' sex and policy context, which have potential implications for women's autonomy and abortion access, which should be explored in future research.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Women's Health Services
/
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
/
Abortion, Induced
/
Abortion, Legal
/
Cultural Diversity
/
Cultural Characteristics
/
Pregnant Women
/
Health Policy
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Pregnancy
Language:
En
Journal:
Women Health
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States