Why Men Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives From Urban Family Planning Clinics in Chicago, Illinois, USA
Support for abortion is comparable between men and women in the United States; one in five reproductive age men reports abortion involvement. Yet, societal focus on abortion as a uniquely women’s issue minimizes men’s involvement in abortion. We conducted a secondary analysis of survey ( n = 203) a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2025-02-01
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| Series: | American Journal of Men's Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883241307795 |
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| _version_ | 1823859110057082880 |
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| author | Jenna M. Heath Brian T. Nguyen |
| author_facet | Jenna M. Heath Brian T. Nguyen |
| author_sort | Jenna M. Heath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Support for abortion is comparable between men and women in the United States; one in five reproductive age men reports abortion involvement. Yet, societal focus on abortion as a uniquely women’s issue minimizes men’s involvement in abortion. We conducted a secondary analysis of survey ( n = 203) and interview data ( n = 30) on male partner’s experiences accompanying abortion recipients at two family planning clinics in Chicago, Illinois. Respondents identified reasons for abortion from a prepopulated 14-item list. We correlated reasons with respondent’s abortion preference and decision satisfaction, characterizing this relationship via thematic analyses of interview transcripts. Nearly all men (97.5%) identified multiple reasons for abortion (median: 6/14), including: mistimed pregnancy (80%), impact on his/his partner’s education/career (75%–80%), and finances (71%). Neither individual reasons nor number of reasons was significantly associated with abortion decision preference or decision satisfaction. While 41% would not have chosen abortion, only 10% reported dissatisfaction. Men’s perception of decision concordance with their partner was significantly linked to their satisfaction ( p < .01). Thematic analysis highlighted complex partner involvement, including shared and deferred decision-making and tension amid demonstrated support. Many abortion-accompanying men preferred to continue the pregnancy, yet very few reported dissatisfaction with the ultimate decision, which may be related to perceived decision concordance with their female partner. Men’s decisions for abortion are complex and include varying degrees of male partner involvement and/or decision deferral to female partners. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-757c61934ac7457681bea21426bcdf94 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1557-9891 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | American Journal of Men's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-757c61934ac7457681bea21426bcdf942025-02-11T08:04:04ZengSAGE PublishingAmerican Journal of Men's Health1557-98912025-02-011910.1177/15579883241307795Why Men Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives From Urban Family Planning Clinics in Chicago, Illinois, USAJenna M. Heath0Brian T. Nguyen1 Obstetrics and Gynecology, Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USASupport for abortion is comparable between men and women in the United States; one in five reproductive age men reports abortion involvement. Yet, societal focus on abortion as a uniquely women’s issue minimizes men’s involvement in abortion. We conducted a secondary analysis of survey ( n = 203) and interview data ( n = 30) on male partner’s experiences accompanying abortion recipients at two family planning clinics in Chicago, Illinois. Respondents identified reasons for abortion from a prepopulated 14-item list. We correlated reasons with respondent’s abortion preference and decision satisfaction, characterizing this relationship via thematic analyses of interview transcripts. Nearly all men (97.5%) identified multiple reasons for abortion (median: 6/14), including: mistimed pregnancy (80%), impact on his/his partner’s education/career (75%–80%), and finances (71%). Neither individual reasons nor number of reasons was significantly associated with abortion decision preference or decision satisfaction. While 41% would not have chosen abortion, only 10% reported dissatisfaction. Men’s perception of decision concordance with their partner was significantly linked to their satisfaction ( p < .01). Thematic analysis highlighted complex partner involvement, including shared and deferred decision-making and tension amid demonstrated support. Many abortion-accompanying men preferred to continue the pregnancy, yet very few reported dissatisfaction with the ultimate decision, which may be related to perceived decision concordance with their female partner. Men’s decisions for abortion are complex and include varying degrees of male partner involvement and/or decision deferral to female partners.https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883241307795 |
| spellingShingle | Jenna M. Heath Brian T. Nguyen Why Men Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives From Urban Family Planning Clinics in Chicago, Illinois, USA American Journal of Men's Health |
| title | Why Men Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives From Urban Family Planning Clinics in Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| title_full | Why Men Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives From Urban Family Planning Clinics in Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| title_fullStr | Why Men Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives From Urban Family Planning Clinics in Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why Men Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives From Urban Family Planning Clinics in Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| title_short | Why Men Have Abortions: Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives From Urban Family Planning Clinics in Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| title_sort | why men have abortions quantitative and qualitative perspectives from urban family planning clinics in chicago illinois usa |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883241307795 |
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