The Guttmacher Institute just released its latest analysis of national abortion statistics. They found that the 2008 abortion rate was 19.6 per 1000 women between the ages of 15 – 44, with the annual total of abortions reaching 1,212,400 (an increase of 6,000 abortions from 2005 when the rate was 19.4 abortions per 1000 women).
As usual, this former affiliate of Planned Parenthood immediately concluded that more access to birth control was needed to prevent increasing abortions. That conclusion ignores certain key facts. Even abortion advocates had observed back in 2008 that abortions were increasing because of the downturn in the economy hurting people financially. Might that alone account for the increase that has now been determined two years later?
However, Americans United for Life pinpoints two other important factors that generated upward pressure on the abortion rate. As the largest abortion provider in the nation Planned Parenthood's abortion total increased from 305,310 in 2007 to 324,008 in 2008. That is 18,698 more abortions, which is over 3 times the national increase of 6,000 abortions.
What was Planned Parenthood doing to increase their abortions? They were opening new mega abortion facilities (e.g. in Aurora IL) and expanding the number of locations that commit RU-486 abortions. With this greater availability of abortions, would not an increase be expected? That certainly happened in Illinois. As I just recently reported, the Illinois counties near the Aurora facility experienced significant increases in abortions, while abortions went down in other areas of Illinois.
It appears reasonable to conclude that abortions are continuing to fall except in regions where Planned Parenthood, and possibly other abortion providers, are increasing the availability of abortions with expanded facilities and greater use of RU-486, sometimes even without the need to see a doctor in person (e.g.telemed abortions in Iowa).
What was Planned Parenthood doing to increase their abortions? They were opening new mega abortion facilities (e.g. in Aurora IL) and expanding the number of locations that commit RU-486 abortions. With this greater availability of abortions, would not an increase be expected? That certainly happened in Illinois. As I just recently reported, the Illinois counties near the Aurora facility experienced significant increases in abortions, while abortions went down in other areas of Illinois.
It appears reasonable to conclude that abortions are continuing to fall except in regions where Planned Parenthood, and possibly other abortion providers, are increasing the availability of abortions with expanded facilities and greater use of RU-486, sometimes even without the need to see a doctor in person (e.g.telemed abortions in Iowa).
Contact: Bill Beckman
Source: Illinois Review
