Abortion becoming more common among poor women, racial minorities in US

May 04, 2010

Among American women who obtain abortions, the proportion living under the federal poverty level has jumped from 27% in 2000 to 42% in 2008, according to a new study.

The study by the Guttmacher Institute, which is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood, suggests that tight economic circumstances may contribute to the increase in the number of poor women seeking abortion. The report does not analyze the campaign by Planned Parenthood to encourage abortion among impoverished women and members of racial minority groups. It does note, however, that just 36% of the women procuring abortions were white.

Regarding payment for the abortions, the Guttmacher study found that roughly one-third of the women had private insurance, one-third had no insurance, and one-third of the abortions were covered by the federal Medicaid program.

 

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Further information:

• Abortion Has Become More Concentrated among Poor Women (Guttmacher)