Student's attitudes towards induced abortion and its associated factors

Abstract

Abstract Background At present, the legal status of abortion worldwide is maintained heterogeneously. In Mexico, its practice is allowed within the capital of the country and one more state, provided that it is before the 12th week, however in the rest of the country it is still classified as illegal. Research question: What are the factors associated with the modification of attitudes towards abortion? Methods An observational, prospective, cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted in Veracruz, Mexico between December 2019 and March 2020. University students from public and private schools were included, from the city of Veracruz-Boca del Río, selecting the participants through a non-probabilistic sampling. The Attitudes Abortion Questionnaire was applied to assess the attitudes provided, pro-selection, reproductive rights, health risk and legalization. The surveys were conducted through Google Forms® and were answered on that same platform. The results were collected and analyzed with the SPSS Statistic® program. Results 517 students were included. Private school students showed differences in pro-election attitudes when compared to public, students from urban areas had more pro-election attitudes and in favor of reproductive law compared to those from rural areas, having active sex life and having someone known to having performed induced abortion favors the attitude of pro-choice, reproductive rights and the legalization of abortion as a means of solution for its complications, and detracts from the position provided, in both situations (p < 0.05). The strong religioside is the one who has the main differences showing less points in the pro-election, reproductive law and legalization as a solution and more in being provided. (p < 0.001) Conclusions The social context still manifests itself uneven at the moment of having a posture and attitude with the legalization of induced abortion, being strong, independent of religion strong beliefs in a god. Key messages University students are in different positions before abortion according to their social and cultural context. The regulation of the abortion policy will have to contemplate the particular Mexican situation taking into account its social fabric and the moment in which it lives.