3. Hypotheses & Rationale Bivariate Religious Beliefs Abortion Rates A person’s religious beliefs may have an affect on whether or not they may have an abortion. Morality is to some extent a function of religious beliefs and vice versa. Religion, for those who practice or believe in one, is usually a very personal experience that shapes one’s attitudes. Attitudes on abortion are followed by these beliefs.
4. Hypotheses & Rationale Multivariate Race Religious Beliefs Abortion Rates Not only do religious beliefs have the potential to affect attitudes and practices regarding abortion, but so do race and ethnicity. The abortion story is often told from the eyes and experiences of the majority culture in America. Laws are often implemented by and therefore through the insight of that same culture. This shows concerns of minorities in the abortion issues that are often overlooked and undervalued.
5. Abortion Rate by Age Group Year 1972 1980 1985 1990 1991 1992 1993 Age Group <19 32.6 29.2 26.3 22.4 21.0 21.0 20.0 20-24 32.5 33.3 34.7 33.2 34.4 34.5 34.4 >25 34.9 35.3 39.0 44.4 44.6 45.4 45.6
7. Abortion trends by age indicate that since 1972, abortion ratios have been higher for adults >25 years than for any other age group. For females aged < 19 years, the abortion ratio generally decreased from 1972 through the early 1993. Those age 20-24 years had a steady rate from 1972-1993.
8. This graph shows that blacks had a higher rate of abortions from 1980 to 2003 compared to whites. From 1980 to 2003, whites show a small percentage decline in abortion rates. When comparing blacks to all races as a whole, their percentages are still twice as high.