The abortion rate has remained steady in the US between 2005 and 2008 after declining for a decade. Researchers suggest that the recession as a possible factor. Incidents of harassment at the offices of nonhospital abortion providers increased in the same time period.
The abortion rate was at its highest recorded in 1981. The study, which was conducted by the Guttmacher Institute, is to appear in the March 2010 issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Researchers also found that early medication abortion using the abortion drug RU-486 (mifepristone) has become an integral part of abortion care. 59% of all known abortion providers now offering this as an option. Indeed, the proportion of nonhospital abortions using early medication procedures increased from 14% to 17%. In addition, the number of abortion providers changed little from 2005 to 2008, from 1,787 to 1,793. 87% of counties in the US continue to have no abortion providers; 35% of women of childbearing age live in those counties.
However, the study reported a 'disturbing increase' in the proportion of large nonhospital providers experiencing antiabortion harassment, from 82% in 2000 to 89% in 2008. From a press release from the Guttmacher Institute:
Harassment was particularly common among providers of all sizes in the Midwest and South. Picketing was the most common form of harassment (reported by 55% of providers), followed by picketing combined with blocking patient access to facilities (21%).
As to why the statistics on abortion have not changed, the January 11th Time magazine quotes Columbia University professor Beverly Winikoff:
Although there are no proven theories as to why abortion rates may not have continued their decline, Beverly Winikoff, a Columbia University professor and president of Gynuity Health Projects told USA Today that the recession may have played a role: "Don't dismiss the economy as a (strong) reason for not having a baby."
The January 11th Washington Post also cited the recession as a factor in the abortion rate plateauing. As it has become harder for women to afford contraceptives, there are more unplanned pregnancies and more women who 'decide they can't afford another child,' Rachel K. Jones, a senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute, noted:
Previous recessions did not have a major impact on the trend in the abortion rate, but those economic downturns were not nearly as severe, Jones said.
Other observers agreed, saying women were making the painful economic calculus to skip a few routine bills to cover a $400 to $600 abortion rather than face supporting another child.
"We hear from women who are selling possessions and forgoing paying certain bills in order to afford the abortion care they need," said Vicki Saporta of the National Abortion Federation, which represents abortion providers. "Many of these women already have children and are struggling to care for the children they have and are very clear they can't afford to have another child."
The Washington Post quotes Randall K. O'Bannon of the National Right-to-Life Committee, who attributes 'increased efforts to promote abortions, especially medical abortions using the drug known as RU-486' as the reason for the abortion rate holding steady.
The Guttmacher Institute is a non-profit organization that seeks to advance sexual and reproductive health in the US and around the world through social science research, policy analysis and public education. For the study, "Abortion Incidence and Services in the United States, 2008," the institute drew on its 15th census of all known abortion providers in the United States for data; nearly 1800 providers were surveyed. A graphic of abortion rates in the US by state can be seen on USA Today.
Read more: abortion, choice, womens rights, ru486, Mifepristone, womens health
The abortion rate was at its highest recorded in 1981. The study, which was conducted by the Guttmacher Institute, is to appear in the March 2010 issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Researchers also found that early medication abortion using the abortion drug RU-486 (mifepristone) has become an integral part of abortion care. 59% of all known abortion providers now offering this as an option. Indeed, the proportion of nonhospital abortions using early medication procedures increased from 14% to 17%. In addition, the number of abortion providers changed little from 2005 to 2008, from 1,787 to 1,793. 87% of counties in the US continue to have no abortion providers; 35% of women of childbearing age live in those counties.
However, the study reported a 'disturbing increase' in the proportion of large nonhospital providers experiencing antiabortion harassment, from 82% in 2000 to 89% in 2008. From a press release from the Guttmacher Institute:
Harassment was particularly common among providers of all sizes in the Midwest and South. Picketing was the most common form of harassment (reported by 55% of providers), followed by picketing combined with blocking patient access to facilities (21%).
As to why the statistics on abortion have not changed, the January 11th Time magazine quotes Columbia University professor Beverly Winikoff:
Although there are no proven theories as to why abortion rates may not have continued their decline, Beverly Winikoff, a Columbia University professor and president of Gynuity Health Projects told USA Today that the recession may have played a role: "Don't dismiss the economy as a (strong) reason for not having a baby."
The January 11th Washington Post also cited the recession as a factor in the abortion rate plateauing. As it has become harder for women to afford contraceptives, there are more unplanned pregnancies and more women who 'decide they can't afford another child,' Rachel K. Jones, a senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute, noted:
Previous recessions did not have a major impact on the trend in the abortion rate, but those economic downturns were not nearly as severe, Jones said.
Other observers agreed, saying women were making the painful economic calculus to skip a few routine bills to cover a $400 to $600 abortion rather than face supporting another child.
"We hear from women who are selling possessions and forgoing paying certain bills in order to afford the abortion care they need," said Vicki Saporta of the National Abortion Federation, which represents abortion providers. "Many of these women already have children and are struggling to care for the children they have and are very clear they can't afford to have another child."
The Washington Post quotes Randall K. O'Bannon of the National Right-to-Life Committee, who attributes 'increased efforts to promote abortions, especially medical abortions using the drug known as RU-486' as the reason for the abortion rate holding steady.
The Guttmacher Institute is a non-profit organization that seeks to advance sexual and reproductive health in the US and around the world through social science research, policy analysis and public education. For the study, "Abortion Incidence and Services in the United States, 2008," the institute drew on its 15th census of all known abortion providers in the United States for data; nearly 1800 providers were surveyed. A graphic of abortion rates in the US by state can be seen on USA Today.
Read more: abortion, choice, womens rights, ru486, Mifepristone, womens health
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