Is Religious Affiliation a Predictor of Non-Contracepting Behavior among Women who have had an Abortion? Open Access

Abstract

Purpose: In the United States, 51% of all pregnancies are unintended and 40% of these pregnancies end in elective abortion. Of these abortions, 48% are repeat abortions. There has

been an increase of research into the field of religion and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behaviors, specifically focusing on contracepting behavior and unintended pregnancy. In previous literature, components of religion seem to have a mixed association with SRH, with some studies demonstrating an effect and others not. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of religious affiliation on noncontracepting behavior among women of reproductive age who have had an abortion and are at risk for an unintended pregnancy.

Methods: We used 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth data to model the relationship between religious affiliation and noncontracepting behavior. We tested multivariable logistic models with religious affiliation as the primary exposure and recent noncontracepting behavior as the outcome, controlling for demographic variables.

Results: Among women 15-44 who have had an abortion, 56.1% are noncontraceptors. Proportions of noncontraceptors were 67.4% (SE 7.8) among Catholics, 62.3 % (SE 8.3) among Fundamentalist Protestants, and 46.0 % (SE 6.4) among Mainstream Protestants. In multivariable modeling, religious affiliation was not associated to noncontracepting behavior.

Conclusion: Among women who have had an abortion, religious affiliation is not associated with their noncontracepting behavior.

Table of Contents

BACKGROUND / LITERATURE REVIEW. 1

METHODS. 14

RESULTS. 19

DISCUSSION. 22

REFERENCES. 25

TABLES. 30

APPENDIX. 35

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Epidemiology
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	religious affiliation unintended pregnancy noncontraceptive behavior abortion
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Kramer, Michael R, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	National or regional non-profit organization (e.g., American Cancer Society)

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