THE "TURN AWAY" STUDY ASSOCIATES POVERTY WITH DENIED ABORTIONS
On the 50th Anniversary of ROE V. WADE AMERICA IS STARKLY DIVIDED ON ABORTION RIGHTS WITH SOME OWN
In the debate over abortion, emphasis is placed on the unborn. The pro-choice stance on abortion also places the attention on the woman who has to live experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. "Will I be able to take care of this child?: is a core question women ask themselves. The answer is often "no" for many women who after proceeding with pregnancy are left with the challenges of single motherhood caused by socioeconomic adversity.
There is data via the "Turn Away" study that supports the notion that women raising unwanted children tend to face poverty.
The "Turn Away Study" examined the physical and emotional consequences of unwanted pregnancies in women who were denied late term abortions. Over a 10-year period, the study looked at nearly 1,000 women at 30 abortion clinics who either got abortions or were "turned away" because they were too far along in their pregnancies.
The main finding of The "Turnaway Study" is that "being denied an abortion results in worse financial, health and family outcomes. "
More than an emotional toll, dealing with raising unplanned children has negative financial effects the report showed. "The study finds that many of the common claims about the detrimental effects on women’s health of having an abortion are not supported by evidence. For example, women who have an abortion are not more likely than those denied the procedure to have depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation. We find that 95% of women report that having the abortion was the right decision for them over five years after the procedure (Advancing New Standard in Reproductive Health)."
The "Turnaway Study" does find serious consequences of being denied a wanted abortion on women’s health and wellbeing. Women denied a wanted abortion who have to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term have four times greater odds of living below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)Reporting on the study was compiled in a book with excerpts available below.
