Top Three Reasons Why Women Consider Abortion

In 2006, Marie Stopes International commissioned WebSurvey to research ‘What Women Want When Facing An Unplanned Pregnancy’. The extensive research conducted by WebSurvey resulted in some incredible findings. Amongst them, these were the top three reasons women chose abortions:

1.       Lack of readiness for parenthood (70%)

2.       The desire to avoid being a single mother (32%)

3.       The woman’s status as a student (28%)

Almost twenty years on, these three reasons remain consistent with the feedback we receive from clients (along with other contributing factors).

Here are three ways we help women facing their unplanned pregnancy journey and thanks to our financial supporters, every service listed below is free of charge to our clients:

‍1.       Parenting and Mentorship Programs

It’s easy to understand that an unplanned pregnancy often means a lack of readiness for parenthood – but often we overlook something shared by many women.

‍Even a woman with the most planned pregnancy is a woman facing the unknowns of parenthood.

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First child or fifth child, every child is unique and every parent learns new skills on the job. Unplanned pregnancy does not have to equal ‘unreadiness’. Mum2Mum is one of our peer-based parenting programs where we invite local women to gather around food and friendship as we grow in our readiness for parenthood.

Our goal is to create a safe space for mums (and expecting mums) to foster relationships with one another and learn together in a judgement-free environment.

We also provide one on one mentorship with our incredible team of social workers and counsellors.‍

2.       Financial and practical support for the first 12 months of motherhood, whether you are single or co-parenting.

At Diamond Women, we are so passionate about providing tailored support for our clients. For some, their greatest need is a village to help raise their child, for others it’s having someone step through the various financial support available to them. We can provide very practical resources: from prams to cots, groceries to fuel vouchers and everything in between. Most of all, we can ensure women have the ongoing emotional and mental health support needed through their parenting journey.

For more information on unplanned pregnancy, singleness and relationship breakdown, read here.

3.       Employment Readiness Pathways

Bringing a child into the world does not necessarily mean the end of a woman’s career or study. In fact, if our client stories are anything to go by, it appears that with the birth of a child, comes the birth of a fierce tenacity in a mother to pursue new or long desired dreams: a career pivot, an innovative business solution, a greater efficiency and approach to study.

Sarah’s story is such a great encouragement for single mums and women concerned about how parenthood may impact their careers.

One of our favourite student stories is that of Felicity*, an international student who came into our services following an unplanned pregnancy. Through local community networks, Felicity took up the opportunity to live with a family (rent free) who cared for her throughout her pregnancy and following birth. The most special moment was that hours after giving birth, Felicity chose to sit her final university exam. She graduated with her degree, baby in tow. Felicity now thrives in her home country with a growing family and a bright future.

There is so much more in the way of services and support available for women facing unplanned pregnancy. If you or someone you know needs to reach out, you can email us here or call us on 1300 851 592.

Interested in helping women facing unplanned pregnancy?

Click here to provide one-off or ongoing financial support, so that we can continue to provide quality, wrap around care, free of charge to women who need it most!

_{*Name has been changed for client confidentiality.}

_{Source: https://resources.msiaustralia.org.au/Real-Choices-Key-Findings.pdf}

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