U.S. Abortion Rate Falls To Lowest Level Since Roe v. Wade

[DonViejo]

Source: NPR


January 17, 20178:01 AM ET

The abortion rate in the United States fell to its lowest level since the historic Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalized abortion nationwide, a new report finds.

The report by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports legalized abortion, puts the rate at 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age (ages 15-44) in 2014. That's the lowest recorded rate since the Roe decision in 1973. The abortion rate has been declining for decades — down from a peak of 29.3 in 1980 and 1981.

The report also finds that in 2013, the total number of abortions nationwide fell below 1 million for the first time since the mid-1970s. In 2014 — the most recent year with data available — the number fell a bit more, to 926,200. The overall number had peaked at more than 1.6 million abortions in 1990, according to Guttmacher.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the longstanding controversy around abortion policy, the meaning of the report is somewhat in dispute.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/17/509734620/u-s-abortion-rate-falls-to-lowest-level-since-roe-v-wade

[HoneyBadger]

1. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

[csziggy]

2. Yes - what are the statistics for maternal death?

Has it gone up everywhere as it has in Texas because the access to abortions (and other women's healthcare) has been reduced?

Or has the availability of birth control as required in the ACA reduced the number of unplanned pregnancies and THAT is what led to the reduction in the number of abortions?

The first would be a very bad thing, the second would be excellent - and a very good argument for continuing that requirement.

[Arkansas Granny]

3. It sound like it is a good thing, according to the quote by Cecile Richards.

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said efforts to help women get better access to contraception are paying off. She points in particular to recent improvements in the rate of unintended pregnancies, and a historically low teen pregnancy rate.

"It shows that we're finally doing a better job of helping women get access to birth control that's affordable and that's high-quality," Richards said.

If the reduction in abortion is due to a reduction in unwanted and unintended pregnancies, I would view the report positively. If it was due to lack of access, it would be a different matter.

My personal opinion is that avoiding an unwanted pregnancy is preferable to terminating an existing pregnancy in terms of the cost in dollars and time spent. It is important, however, for both options to remain available to all women.

[karynnj]

6. I wonder if it is due to contraceptives being affordable under ACA -

The better birth control is, the fewer unwanted pregnancies, the fewer abortions.

However, it might be better if this were examined state by state to see if part of the reduction is lack of reasonably easy availability.

[LanternWaste]

9. I think limiting yourself to a binary solution is short-sighted.

I think limiting yourself to a binary solution is short-sighted.

Some may not receive the procedure due to lack of access (states have enacted a total of 231 restrictions on abortion since the 2010 mid-term elections, Texas has reduced available clinics from 41 to 18 since 2012, etc), while others may not receive the procedure simply due to availability of contraception (In 2010, teen pregnancy reached its lowest point in 30 years), rendering the procedure moot.

[raccoon]

4. Do these stats count illegal abortions? Just because abortions are legal

doesn't mean every woman who wants one is able to get a legal abortion.

[hrmjustin]

5. I wish Republicans would not breed!

[SunSeeker]

7. The ACA covers birth control, abortions go down.

Who coulda seen that coming? Anyone with a brain.

[IronLionZion]

8. Republicans will remedy this problem immediately

[Vinca]

10. It's amazing what happens when women have birth control.

You wouldn't think it would take a rocket scientist to figure it out.