Abortion Numbers Down

The total number of abortions performed in Michigan fell by a stunning 11.1 percent from 2003, to a total of 26,269. This is just 62 more abortions than the all-time low figure recorded in 1999. Abortions to Michigan residents fell by 3,072 (10.7 percent) while non-Michigan resident abortions declined by 199 (20.8 percent). Since the peak year of 1987, abortions have fallen 46.5 percent.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “Michigan is showing a true climate of life with the decrease of abortions. More and more women are rejecting abortion and making the positive choice of life for their babies.”
The huge decline in 2004 all but erased the four years of increase experienced from 2000 to 2003. The drop of 3,271 abortions is the single largest one-year decrease since the massive drop in abortions after Medicaid funding was ended (10,300 decrease from 1988 to 1989).

Abortions for minors (under age 18) hit a record low since the state began tracking that number in 1990. The 1,770 minor abortions for 2004 represented an 11.8 percent decrease from the previous year. The rate of abortions among minors has fallen a staggering 59.2 percent since 1990.

The abortion rate among younger women (under 25), has been trending downward, while the rates for women over 25 have been either stable or trending upward. “The face of abortion” is definitely aging in Michigan

In 2003, abortion information was provided by race for the first time, confirming the abortion crisis in the African-American community. Black women abort their children at a rate two to five times higher than women of other races. They comprise approximately 15.7 percent of women age 15-44, but obtained 37.5 percent of all abortions in 2004, a slight decline from 38.2 percent in 2004.

The repeat abortion rate was 48.0 percent, with 25.7 percent of all women having a second abortion and 22.3 percent having their third or more. Much like previous years, unmarried women were 85.4 percent of the abortion consumers in 2004.

The number of women aborting in 2004 who had previously given birth was 60.3 percent, down from 61.8 percent in 2003. The all-time high was 63.3 percent in 2002. Single mothers had 47.8 percent of all abortions; single women with no children had 37.5 percent. The overwhelming number of married women who abort are mothers, 86.7 percent (12.0 percent of all abortions).

Medically induced abortions performed through 8 weeks of pregnancy, which would include any abortion using RU-486, has risen consistently since RU-486 was approved in September 2000. In 2001, only 2.9 percent of abortions were medically induced. In 2003, 7.4 percent of abortions (2,199), were presumably RU-486 abortions. The upward trend continued in 2004, with the number rising to 2,338, 8.9 percent of all abortions.

Right to Life of Michigan is thankful for prolife legislators who over the years have worked to pass much needed prolife laws in Michigan such as the parental consent law and the informed consent law. These laws, along with others, have helped to make the numbers of abortions in our state decrease. Another piece of legislation that could dramatically affect the number of abortions in Michigan is House Bill 4446, also known as the Ultrasound Viewing Requirement. This bill would require abortion providers to present women with the opportunity to view an active ultrasound image of their growing child as well as have a picture of that ultrasound image.

Listing said, “We will continue to reach out to women in need so that they know that abortion is not their only option. There are far too many women who enter an abortion clinic thinking they have no other choices. Our seven resource centers and our toll-free 1-800-57WOMAN number are designed to help women find real choices for themselves and their children.”

For more information on abortion statistics, visit Right to Life of Michigan at www.rtl.org and click on “Abortion.”