Circumstances play a significant role in a woman’s decision to seek an abortion. Throughout more than a decade serving mothers determined to abort their children, Human Coalition has found that 76 percent of women would prefer to parent if their circumstances were different.
The number one reason women cite for seeking an abortion is a lack of support. [i] Factors like financial instability or existing responsibilities affect a woman’s decision-making process.
Circumstances Leading to Abortion:
According to the Guttmacher Institute,[ii] some of the main reasons women seek abortions are financial hardship, lack of help from the babies’ fathers, health concerns for either themselves or their preborn children, other children and/or family responsibilities, and fear of stigma.
Guttmacherreports that approximately 41 percent of women obtaining abortions had an income below the federal poverty level (FPL).[iii]
How can we help these women?
The answer to how we can help moms is simple, but it requires compassion and long-term commitment.
Addressing the underlying circumstances that lead women to seek abortion helps them to choose life for their children.
Providing practical support—such as financial assistance, housing, or childcare resources — helps create an environment where women feel equipped to parent and make life-affirming decisions.
Human Coalition puts this plan into action by providing counselors who spend time to listen to a woman’s needs and developing actionable plans. Nurses help educate and meet her healthcare needs. Social workers walk with her and connect her to resources. Churches come alongside her as a community and support network. Each one of us has something to offer the mom in need, if only we are willing to ask what that need is.
Reducing the demand for abortion means increasing resources, connecting moms with housing, healthcare, childcare, supplies, job training, education, and help escaping domestic violence.
Abortion is truly unnecessary. A mother is much more likely to believe this is true when her community comes around her and removes the obstacles to her parenting and thriving.
[i] https://web.archive.org/web/20220320023616/https://www.guttmacher.org/perspectives50/womens-reasons-having-abortion
[ii] https://web.archive.org/web/20220320023616/https://www.guttmacher.org/perspectives50/womens-reasons-having-abortion
[iii] Guttmacher Institute, “Abortion in the United States: A Global Comparison”
