[Abortions and the life course: insights based on pairfam data]

Despite the social and political importance of abortion, little quantitative research has been done on the individual circumstances of women who have had abortions in Germany. This article takes an empirical and descriptive look at the individual, economic, and partnership conditions under which such decisions are made.

Data from the first 13 waves (2008-2021) of the German Family Panel (pairfam) were analyzed. Data from women who had an abortion were compared with those who carried the pregnancy to term in terms of individual characteristics, economic, and partnership circumstances. The sample consists of 1511 observations from 1082 respondents, including 216 abortions and 1295 births. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive analysis.

Abortions are associated with several individual, economic, and partnership characteristics. Abortions are relatively less frequent when women are in good health and more frequent when they already have two or more children. In addition, the financial situation of women who have an abortion is comparatively worse. They are also more likely to be single or dissatisfied with their partnership.

The findings suggest that the decision to terminate a pregnancy by abortion is made in the context of specific life circumstances. This article highlights the need for further research into the complexities involved.