THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 4, 1997 TAG: 9701040341
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ATLANTA LENGTH: 35 lines
The nation's abortion rate has dropped to its lowest level in 20 years, the government reported Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 21 of every 1,000 women ages 15 to 44 had an abortion in 1994 - the smallest number since 1976.
About 1.2 million abortions were performed in 1994, down from 1.3 million the year before, and the fourth straight decline. In 1976, 988,267 abortions were performed.
While the CDC gave no detailed explanation for the drop, other organizations cited harassment by demonstrators; efforts by anti-abortion activists to inform women of alternatives to abortion; a lack of abortion services, particularly in rural areas; and better access to birth control, resulting in fewer unwanted pregnancies.
The CDC began tracking abortions in 1972. Abortion was legalized nationwide in 1973.
The peak year for abortion was 1990, when there were 1.4 million. The profile of women who had an abortion in 1994 hasn't differed from previous years: Most were white, single and under 25.
The actual number of women of reproductive age has increased 12 percent since 1980, but more women are 35 to 44 years old and consequently are less fertile.
There were 321 abortions for every 1,000 live births in 1994, the lowest level since 1976, when there were 312 abortions per 1,000 live births, the CDC said.
KEYWORDS: ABORTION RATE