Almost 70 percent of respondents to a survey carried out by Misco say they are opposed to abortion if the pregnancy does not place the mother’s life at risk.
The survey, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Malta, was carried out towards the end of November and featured 800 respondents.
Conversely, almost 80 percent favour a medical intervention that results in the termination of pregnancy in circumstances where a woman’s life is in danger.
Meanwhile, one-fifth of respondents, 21 percent, agree that abortion can be used a means of limiting the size of a family, irrespective of whether a mother’s health or life is at risk.
Respondents were asked three questions during the survey:
- Do you agree or disagree with abortion in the following circumstances? When the pregnancy endangers the life of the mother.
- Do you agree or disagree with abortion in the following circumstances? When the pregnancy does not endanger the life of the mother.
- Do you agree or disagree with abortion in the following circumstances? When he mother does not wish to have more children.
With regard to the question of abortion in cases where a woman’s life is not at risk, it is notable that 58 percent of women and 78 percent of men expressed themselves against, while opposition to abortion increases significantly in the categories above 24 years of age.
Malta’s Parliament is currently voting on an amendment which would permit an abortion to take place not only when a mother’s life is at risk but also in cases where there is ‘grave risk to a woman’s health’.
The Church has expressed extreme concern over any legislative change that would permit the termination of a pregnancy to take place in circumstances where a woman’s life is not at risk.