Women's Knowledge of and Support for Abortion Restrictions in Texas: Findings from a Statewide Representative Survey
4818916.pdf

Authors

Kari White, University of Alabama Joseph E. Potter, University of Texas Amanda Jean Stevenson, University of Colorado, Boulder Liza Fuentes, Boston Medical Center Kristine Hopkins, University of Texas Daniel Grossman, University of California
CONTEXT

States have passed numerous laws restricting abortion, and Texas passed some of the most restrictive legislation between 2011 and 2013. Information about women's awareness of and support for the laws’ provisions could inform future debates regarding abortion legislation.

METHODS

Between December 2014 and January 2015, some 779 women aged 18–49 participated in an online, statewide representative survey about recent abortion laws in Texas. Poisson regression analysis was used to assess correlates of support for a law that would make obtaining an abortion more difficult. Women's knowledge of specific abortion restrictions in Texas and reasons for supporting these laws were also assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, 31% of respondents would support a law making it more difficult to obtain an abortion. Foreign-born Latinas were more likely than whites to support such a law (prevalence ratio, 1.5), and conservative Republicans were more likely than moderates and Independents to do so (2.3). Thirty-six percent of respondents were not very aware of recent Texas laws, and 19% had never heard of them. Among women with any awareness of the laws, 19% supported the requirements; 42% of these individuals said this was because such laws would make abortion safer.

CONCLUSIONS

Many Texas women of reproductive age are unaware of statewide abortion restrictions, and some support these requirements because of misperceptions about the safety of abortion. Advocates and policymakers should address these knowledge gaps in efforts to protect access to legal abortion.

Author's Affiliations

Kari White is assistant professor, Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Joseph E. Potter is professor, Department of Sociology and at the Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. Amanda J. Stevenson is a doctoral candidate, Department of Sociology and at the Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. Liza Fuentes is senior project manager, Ibis Reproductive Health, Oakland, CA. Kristine Hopkins is research assistant professor, Department of Sociology and at the Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. Daniel Grossman is director, Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Guttmacher Institute.
Volume 48, Issue 4
December 2016
|
Pages 189 - 197

First published online:

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1363/48e8716
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1363/48e8716/abstract