Photos of aborted babies discourage pregnant women from terminating their pregnancies, study finds

 Reuters

Pro-life groups have tried various ways to discourage pregnant women from killing their innocent babies including education campaigns and counselling.

A recent study, however, revealed that a simple and straightforward approach actually works in dissuading mothers from undergoing abortion: showing them pictures of aborted babies.

Dr. Jacqueline C. Harvey, a political science professor at Tarleton State University in Texas, conducted the research, analysing the effectiveness of what is called as "abortion victim photography," and ultimately concluded that seeing pictures of aborted babies convinced mothers not to proceed with killing their babies.

According to the research reported by Life Site News, participants of the study who saw the pictures of abortion victims showed "statistically significant shift in pro-life worldview, a greater negative perception of abortion, a decreased degree of permissiveness and liberalism towards abortion law, and a significant gain in pro-life political views."

In particular, the study showed that 90 percent of the women who were presented with photos of aborted babies increased their negative feelings towards abortion.

The number of participants who described themselves as completely pro-life also increased by 30 percent after viewing abortion victim photography, based on Harvey's research.

Harvey said in her research that these figures indicate how exposure to abortion victim photography is "intrinsically effective" in making pregnant mothers think twice about killing the babies inside their wombs.

This change in the attitude towards abortion, the researcher said, can be key to saving more lives of the unborn.

"Additional analysis found that the strength of one's feelings toward abortion were conclusively parallel to political views about abortion, with those who felt strongly positive towards abortion favoring no legal restrictions, and those who felt strongly negative towards abortion favoring complete prohibition of abortion," Harvey said in her study.

"This suggests that changing how the public feels about abortion impacts how people vote for candidates who would be willing and able to enact legal restrictions that actually save lives," she added.

related articles
U.S. cardinal: Protecting life must be prioritised over other issues like immigration, environment
U.S. cardinal: Protecting life must be prioritised over other issues like immigration, environment

U.S. cardinal: Protecting life must be prioritised over other issues like immigration, environment

Study finds increase in mental health issues among women who have had abortions
Study finds increase in mental health issues among women who have had abortions

Study finds increase in mental health issues among women who have had abortions

Why this woman is still pro-choice even after her mother tried to have her aborted
Why this woman is still pro-choice even after her mother tried to have her aborted

Why this woman is still pro-choice even after her mother tried to have her aborted

Over 100,000 Chileans stage mass protest to oppose proposed abortion law
Over 100,000 Chileans stage mass protest to oppose proposed abortion law

Over 100,000 Chileans stage mass protest to oppose proposed abortion law

News
The woeful ignorance of Justin Welby - Part Two 
The woeful ignorance of Justin Welby - Part Two 

Polyamory and open marriages are the next frontier for progressives. Yet the Church seems to be sleeping at the wheel.

Christian family expelled from Indian village after forced conversion attempt
Christian family expelled from Indian village after forced conversion attempt

Chhattisgarh is increasingly becoming a concerning place for Christians

Ugandan Christian convert killed by Muslim relatives while praying at home
Ugandan Christian convert killed by Muslim relatives while praying at home

A 37-year-old Christian convert in eastern Uganda was killed by members of his own family on Friday 18 July after they forced their way into his home and found him praying in the name of Jesus, according to local sources.

The Bible and food: why it's so much more than eating
The Bible and food: why it's so much more than eating

Eating - and eating together - is never a side note in the biblical story. It is one of the ways God forms community, renews covenant, and reveals Himself.