Majority of Sask. residents have pro-choice views about abortion: survey

According to a recent survey, more than 80 percent of Sask. residents have pro-choice attitudes toward abortion, which marks an increase of10 percentage points from a similar survey in 2012.

The poll was done earlier this month through a University of Saskatchewanquarterly initiative calledTaking the Pulse. Four times a year, researchers calla representative sample of Saskatchewan residentsabout controversial topics.

In the most recent survey,Taking the Pulse called 402 Saskatchewan residents asking if they believe abortion is a matter of choice and should be decided between a woman and her doctor.

The poll shows 54.5 per cent of participants said they strongly agree, while 26.5 per cent said they somewhat agree.

A similarTaking the Pulse surveywas carried outin 2012. In it,70 per cent ofresidents had pro-choice sentiments compared to this year's 81 per cent.

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Breaking down the numbers

Data from this month's survey shows people living in urban areas of the province, such as Saskatoon or Regina, aremore likely to have pro-choice attitudes than people living in rural areas.

Those polled in urbanareas showed 85 per centpro-choice sentiment, compared to76 per centin rural areas.

The survey also shows a difference in opinion based on age in urban areas.

Residents between the ages of 18 and 34 in urban areas have more pro-choice attitudes than residents aged 35 and higher in urban areas.

In fact, everyone polled between 18 and 34-years-old in urban areas expressed pro-choice opinions.

In rural areas, 69 per cent of people aged between 18 and 34 showed pro-choice beliefs.

The initiative is put together through a partnership between the University of Saskatchewan's Social Sciences Research Laboratoriesand PostMedia News Saskatchewan.