title: An economic analysis of pregnancy resolution in Virginia: specific as to race and residence.
abstract: This study analyses an economic model of pregnancy resolution; that is, a model of the choice by a pregnant woman to abort her fetus or carry it to term.  This analysis, using an analytical model derived from the household utility framework, adds to previous research by presenting race- and residence-specific estimates of how individual characteristics, history of abortion, and the community-based factors determine women's choices of giving birth vs. aborting.  The main data for estimating the model were drawn from the 1984 vital statistics of all induced abortions and live births in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The major findings indicate that low parental education, high maternal age, previous early abortions, and the availability of abortion providers all significantly reduce the probability of choosing the live birth option.  Married status and the availability of family planning clinics significantly increase the probability of the live birth option.  The findings also suggest that women's choices between abortion and live birth vary substantially with race (White vs. Black) and residential (urban vs. rural) location.
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000569:Americas; D001519:Behavior; D001723:Birth Rate; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D004467:Economics; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005298:Fertility; D006285:Health Planning; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D017533:Marital Status; D008393:Marriage; D008423:Maternal Age; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009656:North America; D009934:Organization and Administration; D010290:Parents; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012106:Research; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D014768:Virginia; D044465:White People
keywords: Abortion History; Abortion, Induced--determinants; Age Factors; Americas; Behavior; Blacks--women; Comparative Studies; Cultural Background; Decision Making; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Economic Factors; Educational Status; Ethnic Groups; Family Planning; Family Planning Programs; Fertility; Fertility Control, Postconception; Fertility Measurements; Marital Status; Maternal Age; Models, Theoretical; North America; Northern America; Nuptiality; Organization And Administration; Parental Age; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Dynamics; Program Accessibility; Program Evaluation; Programs; Research Methodology; Rural Population--women; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Studies; Theoretical Studies; United States; Urban Population--women; Virginia; Wanted Births--determinants; Whites--women