title: A mapping of the positions of adults in Toulouse, France, regarding induced abortion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Are people's views on abortion as polarised as is suggested by the 'marches for life' that regularly take place in Paris and other capitals? Objective To map French people's positions regarding the acceptability of induced abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and fifty-nine participants were presented with stories composed according to a three within-subject design: Reason for abortion (e.g., the woman's life is endangered) × Gestational age × Woman's age. They assessed the extent to which abortion would be, in each case, an acceptable medical/surgical procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five qualitatively different positions were identified: (i) always acceptable, irrespective of circumstances (31% of the sample), (ii) strictly depends on the reason for abortion (27%), (iii) legalist (23%), (iv) depends on the reason and on the gestational age (18%), and (v) always unacceptable (1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only one-fifth of the participants agreed with the part of the French law that permits abortion on request when gestational age does not exceed ten weeks. The others disagreed either because they thought that abortion on demand should never be permitted or because they thought that the age limit should be extended. This divide in people's opinions guarantees that the debate over induced abortions will continue.
authors.affiliation: * Department of Health Psychology, Mirail University , Toulouse , France.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Muñoz Sastre
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petitfils
authors.forename: Paul Clay
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sorum
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mullet
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D016656:Family Planning Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011639:Public Opinion; D057545:Social Stigma; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Abortion; Acceptability; France; Personal positions