A case study of race differences among late abortion patients

The majority of women who terminate an unwanted pregnancy do so in the first trimester of their pregnancy. A much smaller population postpones their decision into the second trimester. Abortion delays greatly increase the health risks and mental stress experienced by women. We examine 240 women who underwent abortions in the second trimester of their pregnancy. The analysis focuses on characteristics that distinguish between black and white women. A discriminant analysis of the data identifies a number of variables that differentiate blacks from whites. Variables that are associated with black and white women who delay their abortion decision include attitudes toward legal abortion, religiosity, household income, the presence of other children, residence patterns, an unwillingness to disclose the pregnancy, and social support for their decision. Discussion of the findings focuses on the role played by cultural experiences.