R Jagannathan1. 1. Department of Urban Studies and Community Health, Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1958, USA. radha@rci.rutgers.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The reliability of abortion self-reports has raised questions about the general usefulness of surveys in research about abortion behavior; however, the extent of underreporting remains a subject of some debate. This study sought to examine abortion reporting in a sample of welfare mothers and to determine factors in underreporting. METHODS: In New Jersey, which covers abortions requested by welfare recipients under its Medicaid program, the responses of a randomly drawn sample of 1236 welfare mothers about abortion events were compared with the Medicaid claims records of these women. RESULTS: Only 29% of actual abortions were self-reported by the women in the sample. This finding varied dramatically by race, with substantially higher rates of underreporting by Blacks than by Whites or Hispanics. CONCLUSIONS: Although race is the most consistent predictor of underreporting behavior, attitudinal factors and survey technology also help in explaining abortion reporting behavior.
OBJECTIVES: The reliability of abortion self-reports has raised questions about the general usefulness of surveys in research about abortion behavior; however, the extent of underreporting remains a subject of some debate. This study sought to examine abortion reporting in a sample of welfare mothers and to determine factors in underreporting. METHODS: In New Jersey, which covers abortions requested by welfare recipients under its Medicaid program, the responses of a randomly drawn sample of 1236 welfare mothers about abortion events were compared with the Medicaid claims records of these women. RESULTS: Only 29% of actual abortions were self-reported by the women in the sample. This finding varied dramatically by race, with substantially higher rates of underreporting by Blacks than by Whites or Hispanics. CONCLUSIONS: Although race is the most consistent predictor of underreporting behavior, attitudinal factors and survey technology also help in explaining abortion reporting behavior.
Authors: Antonio Bernabé-Ortiz; Peter J White; Cesar P Carcamo; James P Hughes; Marco A Gonzales; Patricia J Garcia; Geoff P Garnett; King K Holmes Journal: CMAJ Date: 2009-02-03 Impact factor: 8.262
Authors: Jennifer Gaudie; Francis Mitrou; David Lawrence; Fiona J Stanley; Sven R Silburn; Stephen R Zubrick Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2010-02-11 Impact factor: 3.295