Table 88: Knowing a woman who had an abortion, by gender Yes No RF DK/NA Male 16.41% 66.15% 0.78% 16.67% Female 15.29% 70.55% 1.54% 12.62% Total 15.71% 68.85% 1.36% 14.08% In 2019, 15.7% reported knowing a person who has had an abortion and there were no significant differences observed between sexes. In 2019, 17.5 % people from the urban regions and 14.6% from outer islands reported knowing a person who has had an abortion. While in 2011 more people from outer islands (23.6%) reported knowing a person who has had an abortion in comparison to that of 16.0% from urban regions. Yes No RF DK/NA 14.58% 64.06% 1.77% 19.59% 16 - 19 13.04% 71.74% 8.70% 6.52% 20 – 29 11.70% 72.08% 2.64% 13.58% 30 – 39 16.45% 70.32% 4.19% 9.03% 40 – 49 9.71% 79.61% 2.43% 8.25% 50 – 59 9.35% 72.90% 7.48% 10.28% 60 – 69 17.39% 69.57% 4.35% 8.70% 70 and above 25.00% 66.67% 8.33% 0.00% NA 12.70% 68.25% 0.00% 19.05% Grand Total 12.99% 72.66% 4.00% 10.35% Urban 17.54% 76.54% 0.71% 5.21% Total 15.71% 68.85% 1.36% 14.08% It is to be noted that while there is no significant difference between the percentage of respondents who reported knowing a person who had undergone the procedure between 2011 (15.9%) and 2019 (15.7%), the number of women who reported knowing someone who has had an abortion has fallen from 24.0% in 2011 to 15.3% in 2019. Table 90: Knowing a woman who had an abortion, 2011, 2019 Year Yes No DK/NA 2019 15.71% 68.85% 15.44% 2011 19.8% 70.0% 10.3% When asked if women should have access to legal and safe abortions most people disagreed (45.3%). This is a worrisome shift from 2011 when most people (67.1%) believed that women should have access. It is even more concerning that a higher percentage of women (48.3%) compared to men (39.8%) believed that women are not entitled to these resources. More respondents from outer islands (50.5 %) compared to those from urban regions (37.0%) think that women should have access to legal and safe abortions. This survey also inquired into the circumstances 64 People below the age of 50 strongly supported this view in comparison to older age groups. Table 91: Access to safe and legal abortion if pregnancy is the result of rape, by age Table 89: Knowing a woman who had an abortion, by region Outer islands when people believed an abortion would be justified. The majority of the people were in support of an abortion if either the life of the mother (88.3%) or the baby is at risk (76.4%). It must be noted that 72.7% of people do not think a pregnancy resulting from a rape should be terminated. More women (78.8%) subscribed to this belief than men (61.7%). Additionally, respondents from the outer islands (74.4%) in comparison to those from urban regions (70.0%), were stronger supporters of the view that a woman cannot have an abortion even if her pregnancy is the result of a rape. Age Group Yes No RF DK/NA Equally worrying is the fact that 76.4% of people think that even if the mother is under the age of eighteen years, the pregnancy should not be terminated. Again women (81.2%) were in strong support of the view that a girl cannot have an abortion compared to men (68.0%).