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Mercy Procedure or a Nightmare? Attitude towards Pregnancy Termination among Polish University Students

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  • Maciej Stokłosa

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia, 42-612 Tarnowskie Gory, Poland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Iga Stokłosa

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia, 42-612 Tarnowskie Gory, Poland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Mateusz Porwolik

    (Department of Ophtalmology, Medical University of Silesia, 40-514 Katowice, Poland)

  • Maciej Bugajski

    (National Research Institute of Oncology, State Research Institute, 31-115 Krakow, Poland)

  • Gniewko Więckiewicz

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia, 42-612 Tarnowskie Gory, Poland)

  • Tomasz Męcik-Kronenberg

    (Department of Pathomorphology, Medical Univeristy of Silesia, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland)

  • Magdalena Piegza

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia, 42-612 Tarnowskie Gory, Poland)

  • Robert Pudlo

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia, 42-612 Tarnowskie Gory, Poland)

  • Piotr Gorczyca

    (Department and Clinic of Psychiatry, Medical University of Silesia, 42-612 Tarnowskie Gory, Poland)

Abstract

Worldwide, there are about 121 million unintended pregnancies per year. The aim of the study was to assess the attitudes in different groups of students from 40 Polish universities towards pregnancy termination. In total, 9686 university students (20.1% male and 79.9% female) took part in our research. Questions about attitudes towards abortion in all possible circumstances were involved in the survey, which also included a socio-demographic questionnaire. Overall, 94.5% of women and 90.7% of men consider that abortion should be legal in the situation of a threat to the mother’s life, while only 52% of women and 38.7% of men accept it in the case of a hard financial situation for the mother. Most students stand for abortion in the situation of a threat to the mother’s life, in the case of rape, or in the case of a mortal fetus defect. Less than half of the students interviewed consider that abortion should be legal in the case of a hard financial situation for the mother or on the mother’s demand. People who declare a religious affiliation more often disagree with abortion, even in the hardest cases such as a danger to the mother’s life or a mortal fetus defect. The factor that influences the strongest on attitudes towards abortion is being an active Roman Catholic. The majority of students have a pro-choice attitude in respect of pregnancy termination.

Suggested Citation

  • Maciej Stokłosa & Iga Stokłosa & Mateusz Porwolik & Maciej Bugajski & Gniewko Więckiewicz & Tomasz Męcik-Kronenberg & Magdalena Piegza & Robert Pudlo & Piotr Gorczyca, 2021. "Mercy Procedure or a Nightmare? Attitude towards Pregnancy Termination among Polish University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:213-:d:711165
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kornelia Zaręba & Stanisław Wójtowicz & Jolanta Banasiewicz & Krzysztof Herman & Grzegorz Jakiel, 2021. "The Influence of Abortion Law on the Frequency of Pregnancy Terminations—A Retrospective Comparative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Biggs, M.A. & Neuhaus, J.M. & Foster, D.G., 2015. "Mental health diagnoses 3 years after receiving or being denied an abortion in the United States," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(12), pages 2557-2563.
    3. Herd, P. & Higgins, J. & Sicinski, K. & Merkurieva, I., 2016. "The implications of unintended pregnancies for mental health in later life," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(3), pages 421-429.
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    1. Iga Stokłosa & Maciej Stokłosa & Gniewko Więckiewicz & Mateusz Porwolik & Maciej Bugajski & Wilhelm Masarczyk & Tomasz Męcik-Kronenberg & Magdalena Piegza & Robert Pudlo & Piotr Gorczyca, 2022. "Analysis of Factors Influencing Polish Students’ Opinions on Euthanasia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-11, April.

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