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OBJECTIVE: To investigate community attitudes to abortion, including views on whether doctors should face sanctions for performing late abortion in a range of clinical and social situations. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: An anonymous online survey of 1050 Australians aged 18 years or older (stratified by sex, age and location) using contextualised questions, conducted between 28 and 31 July 2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Attitudes to abortion, particularly after 24 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: Our study showed a high level of support for access to early abortion; 87% of respondents indicated that abortion should be lawful in the first trimester (61% unconditionally and 26% depending on the circumstances). In most of the clinical and social circumstances described in our survey, a majority of respondents indicated that doctors should not face professional sanctions for performing abortion after 24 weeks' gestation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that a majority of Australians support laws which enable women to access abortion services after 24 weeks' gestation, and that support varies depending on circumstances. Simple yes/no polls may give a misleading picture of public opinion.

Original publication

DOI

10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03732.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Med J Aust

Publication Date

05/07/2010

Volume

193

Pages

9 - 12

Keywords

Abortion, Induced, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Attitude to Health, Australia, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Physicians, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Trimester, First, Pregnancy Trimester, Second, Public Opinion, Young Adult