Savanta ComRes Scottish poll on ‘DIY’ home abortion

Key points

• 68% of the general population are concerned about women undergoing an abortion procedure at home.
  • Women were most concerned about women undergoing an abortion at home 
    • 71% of women are concerned about women undergoing an abortion procedure at home.
    • 64% men are concerned about women undergoing an abortion procedure at home.
  • 18-34 year olds (youngest age cohort) are the age group that are most concerned about women undergoing an abortion procedure at home – and 55+ (oldest age cohort) were the least concerned
    • 73% of 18-34 year olds are concerned about women undergoing an abortion procedure at home.
    • 67% of 35-54 year olds are concerned about women undergoing an abortion procedure at home.
    • 64% of 55+ year olds are concerned about women undergoing an abortion procedure at home.
• 83% of the general population and 84% of women are concerned about women finding the disposing of the terminated pregnancy either into the toilet or sanitary pads during a home abortion distressing.
• 82% of the general population and 85% of women are concerned about women having a medical abortion past the legal limit of ten weeks into gestation.
  • Only 2% of the general population and 2% of women said they were not at all concerned.
• 79% of the general population and 80% of women are concerned about the possibility of abortion pills being falsely obtained for another person during the home abortion process where a doctor does not see the woman in person.
• 84% of the general population and 87% of women are concerned about women being at risk of being coerced into an abortion by a partner or family member during the home abortion process where a doctor does not see the woman in person.
• 86% of the general population and 89% of women are concerned about women being at risk of unwanted abortion arising from domestic abuse by partners controlling or monitoring their actions during the home abortion process where a doctor does not see the woman in person.
• The general population believe that when a woman has an abortion, mental wellbeing and physical safety are the most most important consideration, well ahead of privacy or comfort.
  • When a woman has an abortion, which of the following factors would you say is the most important consideration?
    • Mental wellbeing – 45%
    • Physical safety – 37%
    • Privacy – 9%
    • Comfort – 4%
    • Other – 1%
    • Don’t know – 3%

Poll details

• Click here to view data tables.
• Savanta ComRes interviewed 1,042 Scottish adults aged 18+ online between 16 – 23 December 2020. Data were weighted to be representative of Scottish adults by age, sex and region. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. The poll was commissioned by SPUC Scotland – press release and comments from SPUC Scotland are available here.