US Abortion Rate Drops To The Lowest Ever, The Credit Goes To Roe V. Wade Decision

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The rate of abortion across the US has dropped to the lowest, followed by the Roe V. Wade Supreme Court decision of 1973. As per a report published by the Guttmacher Institute, an organization supporting abortion rights has mentioned that US abortion rate has dropped real low.

According to Washington Post, in 2014, there were about 14.6 abortions per 1000 women aged between 15 to 44 years, compared to 29.3 abortions per 1000 women in the early 1980s. The number clearly suggested that abortions at present were half as common as they were back in the 80s. In simple words, as per the Guttmacher Institute the abortion rate dropped to one million in a year in 1975.

Interestingly, the numbers of abortions have come from all the providers that the Institute conducts each year. However, the researchers have supplemented the data from several state run health agencies to get the accurate results. As per the research authors, Jenna Jerman and Rachel Jones, the main reason for decline depended on two factors. These factors were the affordable and easy availability of contraceptive pills that helped control undesired pregnancy and the increase of abortion restrictions across several US states.

The Institute's state wise breakdown showed drastic reduction in the abortion rate in cases of some liberal states such as California, that protects abortion rights. On the other hand, the rate of abortion also declined in conservative states such as Texas that has also issued restricted abortion laws. As per USA Today, Jones mentioned that most women who opt for abortions have lower incomes. Apart from that she also added that the rate of abortion was also high among two third women who were already parents.

According to Rachel Jonas, "It can be very difficult for them to arrange for time off from work, transportation and child care". She further added, "some of the abortion rate decline is likely attributable to women who were prevented from accessing needed services." The report concluded that it is still unclear whether the decline in abortion is due to fewer women having unplanned pregnancies or some other factor.