Thaindian News

London, Aug 14 (IANS) Many British women are avoiding giving birth and resorting to abortions as they have turned quite concerned over the prevailing financial condition.

A survey of General Practitioners (GPs) found that the ongoing downturn has led to more women considering aborting their babies because they cannot afford the costs of keeping the child, Daily Mail reported.

Women are also delaying beginning a family and there has been a rise in mental health problems, which the recession is being blamed for.

The figures, reported in The Telegraph, highlight how much the economic slump is affecting the married as well as the single women who wish to start a family or expand the number of young ones.

According to the survey of 300 doctors by Insight Research Survey Group, the middle-class have been most affected.

A fifth of GPs questioned said they had seen an increase in women asking for terminations because they were concerned about their financial status.

“The middle class has been especially affected by the turbulence of the economic recession, said Richard Kunzmann, the research manager in charge of the six-month survey.

A third of doctors reported women had been putting off starting a family until their situation improved.

Ann Furedi, chief executive of BPAS, (formerly British Pregnancy Advisory Service) said the women often consider their financial circumstances when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.

“Women need abortion as a back-up for when contraception fails so they can ensure the timing and size of their families is what is right for them and their own personal circumstances,” she said.