Statistics for the United States
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How many abortions occur in America every year?
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research organization affiliated with Planned Parenthood, in 2002 there were approximately 1.29 million abortions performed in the U.S. This translates to over 3500 abortions performed daily and over 40 million occurring in America since Roe v Wade legalized abortion in 1973.
In which states are the most abortions performed?
Since the year 2000, California and New York both performed the most abortions (400,690 total) and have the highest percentage of women obtaining them.
What types of women have abortions?
Women who obtain abortions come from a variety of age groups, socio-economic backgrounds, and religions. For example: while Caucasians represent 68% of the total population, they only have 41% of abortions. Contrast this with African-Americans who represent only 14% of the total population, but obtain 32% of abortions. Almost half (45%) of all abortions are obtained by college-age women. This statistic sheds light on the fact that 83% of abortions are sought by unmarried women and that women living below the poverty level (i.e. college students) are four times as likely to seek an abortion than affluent women. 48% of women who have abortions have had a previous abortion.
Why do women have abortions?
A 1988 family planning survey detailed the following reasons as the most common:
I am unready for responsibility - 21.00%
I can’t afford a baby now - 21.00%
I am concerned about how having a baby could change my life - 16.00%
I don't want to be a single mother or I am having relationship problems - 12.00%
I don't feel mature enough to raise another child or I feel too young - 11.00%
I do not want to have any more children - 8.00%
My husband or partner wants me to have an abortion - 1.00%
My parents want me to have an abortion - 0.50%
I don't want people to know I had sex or got pregnant - 1.00%
Other 3.00% There is a physical problem with my health - 3.00%
There is a possible problem affecting the health of my fetus - 3.00%
I was a victim of rape or incest. – 1.00%
In conclusion, 93% of abortions are performed in America for social or economic reasons.
At what stage of pregnancy are abortions performed?
88% of abortions are performed during the first trimester of pregnancy. While only less than one percent occur during the third trimester of pregnancy, this still amounts to thousands of abortions occurring at a stage when an unborn child can survive outside of the womb.
What are Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton and how did these cases affect abortion law?
The 1973 Supreme Court case of Roe v. Wade decisions superceded all state laws prohibiting abortion. It allowed abortion on demand during the first trimester but only allowed abortion for life and health reason for the remainder of pregnancy. However, Roe’s companion case of Doe v. Bolton defined health asd, “all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the woman's age relevant to the well-being of the patient. All these factors may relate to health." This effectively allowed abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy.
Abortion in Arizona
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How many abortions are performed in Arizona annually?
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, 10,446 abortions were performed on Arizona women in 2005. 3,078 of these abortions were non-surgical medication abortions (i.e. RU-486) while the remaining 7,368 were surgical abortions. The Centers for Disease Control also supports these figures but the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a leading pro-choice research organization affiliated with Planned Parenthood, places the number much higher. In 2000 they reported that the annual abortion rate in Arizona was 17,940, almost double the rate recorded by the Department of Health Services. The Department of Health Services admits their findings could be lower than the actual rate due to underreporting by abortion providers.
In what counties are the most abortions performed annually?
Maricopa County, home to the Phoenix metropolitan area and the sixth largest city in the country, has predictably the most abortions. The Arizona Department of Health Services recorded 7,027 abortions being performed there in 2003, with Pima County having the second highest rate of abortions with 2,080 being performed. Rural counties had the least amount of abortions with four being performed in Greenlee County and three being performed in La Paz County.
What types of women get abortions in Arizona?
80% of abortions are obtained by Whites, 5% are obtained by African-Americans, and the remaining are unknown. Of the 80% that are white, 60% are non-hispanic, 30% are Hispanic, and 10% are unknown. This seems to correlate with the U.S Census Bureau’s figures which show the Arizona population to be 3.6% Black and 87.4% White. Of the population that is “White” 28.5% are Hispanic and 60.4% are Non-Hispanic. Women between the ages of 20-24 obtain the most amount of abortions. While minors age 15 and under procure the least amount of abortions, they are the most likely to choose abortion with a ratio of 29 abortions for every 100 live births. 40% of women who have an abortion in Arizona have had a previous abortion.
When are abortions performed in Arizona?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 83% of abortions in 2003 were performed during the first trimester of pregnancy. 486 abortions were performed between the fourth and ninth month of pregnancy while the gestation age of 681 abortions still remains unknown.
How many abortion providers are there in Arizona?
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute there are 21 abortion providers in the state of Arizona. This represents a 13% decline from 24 abortion providers recorded in 1996. According the Arizona Department of Health, virtually all (99.9%) of the abortions that occurred in 2005 were performed in non-hospital clinics with the remaining being performed in private physician’s offices.
How many crisis pregnancy centers are there in Arizona?
There are at least 29 pregnancy care centers in the state of Arizona that provide resources, medical care, and counseling for women facing an unintended pregnancy. This does not include adoption agencies and maternity homes that provide housing and other services for low income pregnant women.
For further statistics on abortion in Arizona, go to the Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Vital Statistics
For further statistics on abortion in the United States, go to the Centers for Disease Control
