Abstract
Introduction
Most studies investigating abortion attitudes use nationally representative data, leaving a need for studies of variation within a state. This study investigates abortion opinion among women in Ohio, a state with restrictive abortion policies, as well as how individual-level characteristics are associated with abortion opinions.
Methods
Data comes from the Ohio Survey of Women, which was administered from October 2018 to June 2019 to women aged 18–44 years in Ohio (n = 2529; analytic n = 2356). From six questions capturing abortion opinion, we developed a composite measure indicating whether respondents felt “supportive,” “unsupportive,” or “mixed” toward abortion. We examined correlates of abortion opinions using multinomial logistic regression, with “mixed” as the reference category. We applied survey weights in all analyses so that the results are representative of our population as a whole (Ohio women aged 18–44).
Results
Fifty-three percent of respondents were supportive of abortion, with 30% offering mixed views and 17% being unsupportive. Most sociodemographic variables were inconsistent in their significance. Independents (odds ratio [OR]: 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30–0.65) and Democrats (OR: 0.23, CI: 0.14–0.39) were significantly less likely to be unsupportive versus mixed than Republicans. Democrats (OR: 0.4.54, CI: 3.17–6.79) were more likely to be supportive than mixed compared to Republicans, as were those with some other political affiliation (OR: 3.38, CI: 1.89–6.04). Compared to those who never attend religious services, those who attend once per week or more were significantly more likely to be unsupportive than mixed (OR: 3.54, CI: 2.04–6.13), and less likely to be supportive than mixed (OR: 0.33, CI: 0.19–0.55). Additionally, Protestants (OR: 0.62, CI: 0.39–0.97), other Christians (OR: 0.33, CI: 0.39–0.57), and those of other denominations (OR: 0.47, CI: 0.24–0.93) were less likely than those unaffiliated with a religious denomination to be supportive than mixed. Knowing someone who had an abortion or having had one oneself increased odds of being supportive over mixed (OR: 2.16, CI: 1.64–2.84), while being from rural Appalachia decreased odds of being supportive (OR: 0.70, CI: 0.50–0.97). Black respondents were more likely to feel mixed compared to white respondents, having lower odds of being both unsupportive (OR: 0.23, CI: 0.10–0.55) and supportive (OR: 0.55, CI: 0.34–0.91) than mixed.
Conclusions
Overall, a majority of women of reproductive age in Ohio were supportive of abortion, with political affiliation and religious service attendance correlating with abortion opinion.
Policy Implications
The relatively high amount of support for abortion in Ohio highlights an inconsistency between opinion and Ohio’s restrictive legislative landscape.
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This study was funded by a grant from a philanthropic foundation that makes grants anonymously. The sponsor had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.
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All of the authors have fulfilled authorship requirements. MHS conceptualized the analysis plan, implemented the analysis and interpretation, and led the writing of the manuscript. ANT conceptualized the research question and contributed to the data analysis and writing of the manuscript. PC, RBH, MFG, and AHN contributed to the data analysis and the writing of the manuscript. DB made substantive, conceptual revisions to the manuscript as it was being drafted.
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A consent statement was included in both the online and paper survey formats. NORC’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved the study (protocol 18.08.04). The IRBs at the Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati determined that this analysis was exempt from further review.
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Smith, M.H., Turner, A.N., Chakraborty, P. et al. Opinions About Abortion Among Reproductive-Age Women in Ohio. Sex Res Soc Policy 19, 909–921 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00638-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-021-00638-y