Aborted Women: Open Arms Poll

Open Arms National Office conducted a survey of women who have had abortions. Participants in the poll were women who were clients of Open Arms and of Crisis Pregnancy Centers that were co-operating with them in this survey. The survey included 1,145 women. Interviews were conducted from 1986 to 1994.

Demograpics
Average age when they filled out the survey 29
Average age when they had their abortion 20
Weeks along when abortion was performed 10
Cost of abortion $297

Count Percent
Total 1,145 100%
Type of abortion
Suction 800 70%
D&C 117 10%
D&E 27 2%
Saline 27 2%
Hysterotomy 4 0.5%
Other 19 2%
Can't recall 148 13%
Number of abortions
One 804 70%
Two 199 17%
Three 54 5%
Four or more 29 3%
Reason for abortion
Social 925 81%
Economic 96 8%
Health 55 5%
Life 16 1%
Rape 16 1%
Incest 4 0.5%
Abortion paid by
Mother of baby 392 34%
Father of baby 370 32%
Grandparents of baby 245 21%
Government 79 7%
Insurance 75 7%
Other 61 5%
Client's income bracket (family)
Low (under $15k) 478 42%
Middle ($15-$35k) 281 25%
Upper (above $35k) 53 5%
Could remember doctor's name
Yes 266 23%
No 719 63%
Felt were adequately informed about the baby
Yes 363 32%
No 717 63%
Not sure 28 2%
Felt were adequately informed about complications
Yes 402 35%
No 652 57%
Not sure 40 3%
Would have liked pro-life information then
Yes 699 61%
No 232 20%
Not sure 107 9%
Was the abortion illegal
Yes 64 6%
No 1050 92%
If not: Would they have an illegal abortion
Yes 108 10%
No 756 72%
Not sure 116 11%
Did the relationship with the father of the baby end soon after abortion
Yes 611 53%
No 501 44%
If the relationship did not end, how was it affected
Became closer together 66 13%
Increased their problems 266 53%
Did not have any effect 126 25%
Would they have this abortion again
Yes 158 14%
No 868 76%
Not sure 38 3%
Psychological/emotional problems
Guilt 913 80%
Lower self-esteem 674 59%
Nightmares 366 32%
Crying/depression 798 70%
Regret/remorse 817 71%
Frigidity 256 22%
Hostility/hatred of men 360 32%
Promiscuity 254 30%
Feeling dehumanized 342 30%
Abusive to children 43 4%
Despair/helplessness 527 46%
Eating disorders 223 19%
Can't make decisions 717 35%
Suicidal impulses 298 26%
Can't forgive self 717 63%
Preoccupied w/ death 200 17%
Drug/alcohol abuse 348 30%
Desire to get pregnant again 427 37%
Desire others to abort 60 5%
Suicide attempts 143 12%
Thwarted maternal feelings 165 14%
Other 115 10%
Physical complications reported
Hemorrhage 108 8%
Infection/high fever 92 8%
Neo-natal death & stillbrith 19 1%
Perforated uterus 11 1%
Long difficult labor 116 10%
Cervical lacerations 17 1%
Sterility 22 2%
Damage to bowels 9 1%
Infertility 89 8%
Peritonities 2 0%
Cervical damage 28 2%
Shock/coma 25 2%
PID-tubal infection 36 3%
Blood clotting defect 46 4%
PI-uterine infection 58 5%
Intense pain 282 26%
PID-tubal/ovarian abcess 26 2%
Incomplete abortion 33 3%
PID-unspecified 61 5%
Adherent placenta 16 1%
Scarred uterus 56 5%
Placenta previa 26 2%
Menstrual disorders 187 16%
Tubal pregnancy 17 1%
Rh problems 16 1%
Abdominal pain 193 17%
Premature birth 53 5%
Miscarriage 158 14%
Other 99 9%

Demograpics
Average age when they filled out the survey	29
Average age when they had their abortion	20
Weeks along when abortion was performed	10
Cost of abortion	$297

	Count	Percent
Total	1,145	100%
Type of abortion
Suction	800	70%
D&C	117	10%
D&E	27	2%
Saline	27	2%
Hysterotomy	4	0.5%
Other	19	2%
Can't recall	148	13%
Number of abortions
One	804	70%
Two	199	17%
Three	54	5%
Four or more	29	3%
Reason for abortion
Social	925	81%
Economic	96	8%
Health	55	5%
Life	16	1%
Rape	16	1%
Incest	4	0.5%
Abortion paid by
Mother of baby	392	34%
Father of baby	370	32%
Grandparents of baby	245	21%
Government	79	7%
Insurance	75	7%
Other	61	5%
Client's income bracket (family)
Low (under $15k)	478	42%
Middle ($15-$35k)	281	25%
Upper (above $35k)	53	5%
Could remember doctor's name
Yes	266	23%
No	719	63%
Felt were adequately informed about the baby
Yes	363	32%
No	717	63%
Not sure	28	2%
Felt were adequately informed about complications
Yes	402	35%
No	652	57%
Not sure	40	3%
Would have liked pro-life information then
Yes	699	61%
No	232	20%
Not sure	107	9%
Was the abortion illegal
Yes	64	6%
No	1050	92%
If not: Would they have an illegal abortion
Yes	108	10%
No	756	72%
Not sure	116	11%
Did the relationship with the father of the baby end soon after abortion
Yes	611	53%
No	501	44%
If the relationship did not end, how was it affected
Became closer together	66	13%
Increased their problems	266	53%
Did not have any effect	126	25%
Would they have this abortion again
Yes	158	14%
No	868	76%
Not sure	38	3%
Psychological/emotional problems
Guilt	913	80%
Lower self-esteem	674	59%
Nightmares	366	32%
Crying/depression	798	70%
Regret/remorse	817	71%
Frigidity	256	22%
Hostility/hatred of men	360	32%
Promiscuity	254	30%
Feeling dehumanized	342	30%
Abusive to children	43	4%
Despair/helplessness	527	46%
Eating disorders	223	19%
Can't make decisions	717	35%
Suicidal impulses	298	26%
Can't forgive self	717	63%
Preoccupied w/ death	200	17%
Drug/alcohol abuse	348	30%
Desire to get pregnant again	427	37%
Desire others to abort	60	5%
Suicide attempts	143	12%
Thwarted maternal feelings	165	14%
Other	115	10%
Physical complications reported
Hemorrhage	108	8%
Infection/high fever	92	8%
Neo-natal death & stillbrith	19	1%
Perforated uterus	11	1%
Long difficult labor	116	10%
Cervical lacerations	17	1%
Sterility	22	2%
Damage to bowels	9	1%
Infertility	89	8%
Peritonities	2	0%
Cervical damage	28	2%
Shock/coma	25	2%
PID-tubal infection	36	3%
Blood clotting defect	46	4%
PI-uterine infection	58	5%
Intense pain	282	26%
PID-tubal/ovarian abcess	26	2%
Incomplete abortion	33	3%
PID-unspecified	61	5%
Adherent placenta	16	1%
Scarred uterus	56	5%
Placenta previa	26	2%
Menstrual disorders	187	16%
Tubal pregnancy	17	1%
Rh problems	16	1%
Abdominal pain	193	17%
Premature birth	53	5%
Miscarriage	158	14%
Other	99	9%

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Posted 8 Oct 2000.