Diana Greene Foster: What happens when we deny people abortions?

What happens when we deny people abortions?

How does getting an abortion — or not — influence a woman's life? Demographer Diana Greene Foster puts forward the results of The Turnaway Study, her landmark work following nearly 1,000 women through abortion or childbirth, presenting definitive data on the long-term physical, mental and economic impacts of the right to choose on pregnant people and their families. "Access to abortion is about control over one's body, life and destiny," says Foster.

Access to abortion has lasting physical, economic, and emotional consequences for individuals and families. A landmark study tracking nearly 1,000 women found that those denied abortions faced higher rates of chronic pain, financial hardship, and difficulty achieving life goals. Over 95 percent of people who received an abortion reported it was the right decision for them. The evidence shows that being able to choose when to have children is fundamental to personal and family stability.