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Show Fertility The general fertility rate is defined as the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-44. Utah's general fertility rate has declined from a peak of 126.0 in 1977 to 78.3 in 1996. Despite this decline, Utah's fertility rate remains the highest in the nation. Figure 3* General Fertility Rate Births per 1,000 Women Ages 15-44 200 j 150 -- 100 -- 50 -- 0 -- Utah U.S. H--------1--------1---------I---------1--------1--------1--------1 ,oj .o * Data taken from table lb. Induced Abortions The induced abortion rate is defined as the number of abortions per 1,000 live births. Utah's abortion rate remains significantly below the national average. The induced abortion rate in Utah appears to have peaked in 1989, with rates declining dramatically since 1991. This may be partially explained by a change in abortion laws. The induced abortion rate is only one influence of many on the fertility rate; others include spontaneous abortions (miscarriages) as well as economic and social factors. In fact, the induced abortion rate in Utah has remained relatively stable while fertility rates have declined sharply. Table 2. Induced Abortions Resident Abortion Ratio per 1,000 Year Births Occurrences Live Births 1980 41,786 4,086 91.4 1981 41,286 3,842 86.6 1982 41,537 3,987 91.6 1983 39,441 3,777 90.9 1984 38,286 4,022 101.3 1985 37,441 4,129 104.9 1986 36,383 4,450 114.3 1987 35,285 4,732 118.8 1988 36,040 4,732 115.1 1989 35,558 4,950 121.1 1990 36,253 4,796 114.7 1991 36,019 4,213 104.4 1992 37,198 3,941 94.8 1993 37,077 3,945 97.5 1994 38,271 3,610 86.3 1995 39,556 3,705 83.2 1996 42,056 3,639 78.3 Table 2. Source: Utah's Vital Statistics: Abortions (1996), Utah Department of Health, p.3. 68 |