State total drops to lowest in 37 years as more teens, women choose life
The following news release was issued today, July 1, as a follow-up to our earlier release.
ST. PAUL — Women continue to drive down the number of abortions performed in Minnesota, according to the 2012 Abortion Report issued today by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Abortion numbers decreased 3.3 percent, the abortion rate fell to its lowest since 1974, and abortions performed on minors fell to the lowest number ever recorded.
"Women in Minnesota are seeking out—and finding—the resources and support they need to choose life for their unborn babies," said Scott Fischbach, Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL). "More women and teens are rejecting the abortion industry and its tired, worn-out message that abortion is the only answer to an unexpected pregnancy."
Many of the 2012 statistics are encouraging. Abortions have decreased nearly 23 percent statewide since the Positive Alternatives program began funding efforts to help pregnant women in need. It is by far the biggest six-year drop since the state began recording abortion numbers in 1973.
Abortions performed on minors were down 9.4 percent to 403, representing just 3.8 percent of all abortions in the state. This is the smallest number since the state began recording minor abortions in 1975 and follows a general decline in numbers since 1987.
More than 13,000 women received factual, state provided information about abortion risks and complications, abortion alternatives and much more under the Woman's Right to Know law. MCCL helped to pass the informed consent law in 2003; state abortion numbers have decreased in all but one year since the law took effect.
Not all of today's report is good news, however. More than 40 percent of abortions in 2011 were performed on women who had undergone at least one prior abortion; 99 women had six or more previous abortions. The report also shows that African Americans remain a target of the abortion industry. They represent just 5 percent of the state's population, yet 23 percent of abortions were performed on African Americans.
RU486 chemical abortions spiked to 25 percent of the total, up from 19.7 percent the previous year. Planned Parenthood offered RU486 "webcam abortions" in 2012, allowing it to increase its abortion total while decreasing overhead.
Tax-funded abortions increased to 34 percent of all abortions. This is the highest percentage since the 1995 Doe v. Gomez decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court required taxpayers to pay for abortions performed on low-income women. This percentage has increased nearly every year since the court ruling. Taxpayers have funded 65,889 abortions since the decision.
The following is additional information concerning "Induced Abortions in Minnesota, 2012, Report to the Legislature," released July 1, 2013, by the Minnesota Department of Health:
The 2012 total of 10,701 reported abortions is the lowest recorded since 1975, and also the lowest abortion rate since 1974 (9.3 per 1,000 females age 15-44). 10,701 abortions equates to more than 29 abortions performed every single day last year
The total number of reported abortions performed in Minnesota since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalized abortion on demand: 588,927
40.7% of women who received an abortion in 2012 had at least one prior abortion. A total of 746 women reported they had had 3 or more prior abortions
13,388 women received information about abortion risks, complications and alternatives under the Woman's Right to Know informed consent law, which is 2,687 more than the number who underwent abortions
More women experienced complications during their abortion procedure. Instances of cervical laceration more than doubled, and instances of heavy bleeding/hemorrhage increased by 50 percent
Planned Parenthood performed an average of more than 10 abortions every day in 2012, for a total of 3,919. The provider performed 36.6% of all abortions, performing more than 1,700 more than the next largest provider. It has been the state's largest abortionist since 2004, and increased its abortions by 8.6% last year even as the state total decreased
Abortionists:
• 103 different people performed abortions in 2012
• 8 physicians each performed more than 500 abortions last year
• Minnesota's 7 abortion facilities performed 98.6% of all abortions in 2011
• Women's Health Center (Duluth) performed 508 abortions, up 7.6 percent from 2011
With few exceptions, abortions performed on minors have been declining annually since 1987. In 2006, abortions on minors spiked 16% after Planned Parenthood opened two feeder clinics in Twin Cities suburbs and marketed its services to minors. Abortions performed on minors are down 83 percent from the peak of 2,327 in 1980
57% of abortions were used as birth control (no contraception used at time of conception)
Race and abortion: African Americans—5% of population, 23% of abortions; Asians—4% of population, 7% of abortions; Caucasians—87% of population, 57% of abortions; Hispanics—5% of population, 6% of abortions, American Indians—1.3% of population, 2% of abortions.
Late-term abortions (after week 22) increased from 3 to 4. The latest abortion was performed at 28 weeks (in 2011 the latest was at 31 weeks)
Suction was the most common form of abortion, used for 65.9% of abortions. RU486 chemical abortions reached an all-time high of 25% of the total, up from 19.7% from 2011. Seven instillation (saline) abortions were performed; sharp curettage (D&C) decreased from 16 to 8. No intact D&X (partial-birth) abortions were reported
Reasons women gave for their abortions (more than one reason could be given):
• Less than 1% for rape, incest (consistent with past years)
• 67% "does not want child at this time" (same as 2011)
• 27% economic reasons (34% in 2011)
Complications: 116 reported, up from 107 in 2011
• 22 occurred during abortion procedure (14 cervical laceration, 6 hemorrhage, 2 other)
• 94 occurred after abortion procedure (up from 93 in 2011)
