Ohio abortions decrease again
Terminated pregnancies at lowest level since tracking started in 1976 By Catherine Candisky Printed in The Columbus Dispatch, Tuesday November 11, 2008 The number of abortions performed in Ohio continues to fall. In 2007, 30,859 pregnancies were terminated, down more than 6 percent from the previous year and the lowest number since the state began keeping statistics in 1976. A report by the Ohio Department of Health shows abortions have been declining since 2000, when 38,140 were performed. Ohio continues to have a lower rate of abortions than the national average. According to the state report, Ohio's abortion rate was 192 abortions per 1,000 live births in 2007, compared with a U.S. rate of 241 per 1,000 live births in 2004, the latest national figures available. The report offered no reason for the decline, but both sides in the abortion debate have their own ideas. "Reaching a record low in reported abortions marks a milestone for pro-life efforts in Ohio," said Mike Gonidakis, executive director of Ohio Right to Life. "We believe we've won the debate over whether it's a baby. There is a general change in philosophy among people these days. They see it's a baby." He also mentioned a new state law requiring doctors to give women the opportunity to view an ultrasound of their fetus before undergoing an abortion and older laws requiring a 24-hour wait and parental notification. Abortion-rights advocates speculate that fewer women are having abortions because they are preventing unwanted pregnancies. But not all women are able to do so, they argue. "Abortion statistics are just one piece of the puzzle," said Jaime Miracle, outreach and field director for NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. "We need to look at this issue comprehensively and look at the number of unintended pregnancies, which among certain groups of women are actually increasing, not decreasing." Although Ohio statistics are not available, national figures show that unintended pregnancies are increasing among lower-income women while decreasing among higher-income women. Miracle said expanded access to contraceptives and comprehensive sex education would help reduce unintended pregnancies among poor women. The Department of Health report did not provide information on the income levels of women who obtained abortions last year. It did, however, show that those with a high-school diploma or less underwent nearly two-thirds of the procedures. Ohio's abortion statistics show that black women, who make up about 12 percent of the state's female population, obtained more than a third of all abortions last year. The rate is unchanged since 2000. About 1 in 8 abortions were performed on women younger than 20. Other findings in the Health Department report included: • Women with at least one child accounted for 60 percent of abortions. • Eighty-two percent of the abortions were performed on unmarried women. • Women between the ages of 20 and 24 accounted for a third of abortions, more than any other age group. • Eighty-six percent of abortions were performed before the 12th week of pregnancy. • Ninety-four percent of the 30,859 abortions were performed on Ohio residents. According to the Health Department, the age distribution and marital status of women obtaining abortions have remained fairly unchanged since 1994.
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