Annual abortion total in Minnesota declines slightly

Star Tribune ^ | July 1, 2008 | PAUL WALSH

[Sopater]

A total of 13,843 abortions were performed in Minnesota in 2007, the state Health Department reported this morning, a 1.57 percent decrease over the previous year but a slight rise compared to the two previous years.

In 2006, the state reported 14,065 abortions. The totals were 13,365 in 2005 and 13,788 in 2004.

The annual abortion totals in the state have held steady since the mid-1990s, when they dropped below 15,000 and have remained there since 1993. The peak year was 1980 (19,028).

Among Minnesota residents, there were 17.4 abortions for every 100 live births. That ratio has held steady for the past three years and is down more sharply from 2000 (19.6 per 100 live births), 1990 (22.5 per 100) and 1980 (24.3 per 100).

By race: black patients (48.8 abortions for every 100 live births), American Indian (21.5); Asian (18.6) and white (14.1).

By age: Under 15 (82.5 abortions for every 100 live births), 15-17 (41.7 per 100 live births), 18-19 (35.0); 20-24 (28.1), 25-29 (13.6), 30-34 (9.6), 35-39 (12.9), 40 and older (20.9).

The state report analyzed abortion totals in 2007 (resident and nonresident) by various categories:

Age: Nearly 59 percent of the patients were in their 20s.

Marital status: Nearly 83 percent of the patients were not married.

Location: About 51 percent lived in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

Race: About 60 percent were white, about 23 percent black.

Education: Nearly 42 percent either attended college or were college graduates. Including high school graduates, that total rises to 75 percent.

Point of gestation: More than 99 percent of induced abortions occurred within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, more than 63 percent within the first 10 weeks.

Method of disposal: Nearly 64 percent of aborted fetuses were cremated.

Method of payment: More than 48 percent

[Sopater]

Reason for abortion: About 73 percent of patients said they didn't want children at this time.

When they state this, they are ignoring the following:

• Economic Reasons - 37.2%
• Emotional Health is at Stake - 6.0%
• Unknown or Refused to Answer - 9.3%
• Other Stated Reasons:
  • Single parent of 1 or more children - 7.4%
  • Educational Goals - 6.4%
  • Already have children, don't want any more - 2.5%
  • Relationship Issues - 2.6%

You can't add these up since the women interviewed could have given more that one response. However, you can add up the ones that were for medical reasons:

• Physical Health at Stake - 4.7%
• Continued pregnancy will cause impairment of major bodily function - 0.15%
• Pregnancy resulted in fetal anomalies - 1.1%

This totals up to 6.0%. This would indicate that in over 90% of cases, abortion is used as a means of birth control.

Also in the report:

Total state funds used to pay for out of state abortion procedures, including incidental expenses: $36,461.91

SEE REPORT

[MovementConservative]

I guess that is slightly good news.

[Sopater]

Yeah, good news for 222 and bad news for 13,843.

[Michael.SF.]

The peak year was 1980 (19,028).
13,843 ... abortions 2007.

Roe v. Wade effect in action?

[Sopater]

Roe v. Wade effect in action?

I doubt it had anything to do with changing hair styles.

[militant2]

One abortion is too much.

13,000+ legalized murders per year in Minnesota, much less whatever the rate is in the nation, should be considered a holocaust.

Militant

[Sopater]

...should be considered a holocaust

To many; arguably to most; it is.