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Show Women's and Children's Health Induced Abortions Compiled by Jeffrey Sollis Utah Abortions in 2001: 3.372 Since Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized induced abortions in the U.S., abortion has been the subject of continuous political and social debate. Abortion statistics are often expressed as rates per 1,000 females 15-44 years of age and ratios per 1,000 live births. Utah abortion rates and ratios have consistently fallen below the annual rates and ratios of the U.S. (Table 1). Both state and national rates of induced abortions have continued to decline over the past twenty years (Figure 1), perhaps due in part to increased contraception use. and increased availability of emergency contraception. In Utah, both abortion rates and ratios are highest among unmarried women between the ages of 20 and 24. In 2001, most abortions were obtained by white women, unmarried women, and women under 25 years of age. As in previous years, about one fifth of the women who had abortions were 19 years of age or younger. Of the women who had abortions, 41% reported having no previous live births. Fifty-eight percent of abortions were performed during the first eight weeks of pregnancy; 88% were performed during the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. The only three women's clinics providing abortion services in Utah are all located in Salt Lake City. State law requires minor women to notify one parent before undergoing an abortion. Table 1. Induced Abortion Rate and Ratio, Utah and U.S., 1980-2001. Utah U.S. Year Rate" Ratio' Rate1 Ratio' 1980 11.2 91.4 29.3 428 1981 10.2 86.6 29.3 430 1982 10.5 91.6 28.8 428 1983 9.7 90.9 28.5 436 1984 10.3 101.3 28.1 423 1985 10.4 104.9 28.0 422 1986 10.9 114.3 27.4 416 1987 10.9 118.8 27.1 405 1988 10.7 115.1 27.3 401 1989 11.0 121.1 26.8 380 1990 10.5 114.7 27.4 389 1991 9.2 104.4 26.3 379 1992 8.3 94.8 25.9 380 1993 8.3 97.6 25.4 378 1994 7.3 86.3 24.1 364 1995 7.1 83.2 22.9 351 1996 6.9 78.3 22.9 351 1997 6.5 73.0 22.2 340 1998 6.6 71.7 21.7 N/A 1999 6.3 68.3 21.4 N/A 2000 6.2 69.3 21.1 N/A 2001 6.3 70.4 N/A N/A aRate: abortions per 1,000 females 15-44 years of age. bRatio: abortions per 1,000 live births. Figure 1. Induced Abortion Rate per 1,000 Females 15-44 Years of Age, Utah and U.S., 1980-2001. ---------U.S. •Utah 30 -- £ 20-I 10 + 0 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2001 Year Sources: US. Census Bureau (2002). 2001 Statistical Abstract of the United States. {Online} .Bttp:/A¥ww.c«;siis.gov/statab/u^vw/. Retrieved 04/09/03. Utah Department of Health. Center for Health Data. Office of Vital Records and Statistics (2001). Http.//heaUh state. ut.Bs/bvr/pub vs/ia01/;?1« Utah's Vital Statistics, 2001. Salt Lake City: Government Printing Office. 102 Utah's Health: An Annual Review Volume IX |
