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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Illinois abortions at record low - Chicago Sun-Times

Abortions reported in Illinois reached a 37-year low in 2010, a drop that abortion opponents attributed to more women shying away from the procedure while abortion-rights supporters pointed to an uptick in use of contraceptives.

In 2010, there were 41,859 abortions in Illinois, according to recently published data from the state Department of Public Health .

That’s the lowest total since 1973, when Illinois recorded 32,760 abortions. That’s the year the procedure was legalized in the United States in the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Carole Brite, president of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, said her organization was pleased to learn about the decrease but it was “hard to know for sure” what caused it. She said between 2009 and 2010, her organization doubled its distribution of contraceptives such as intrauterine devices and Implanon — a small rod placed under the skin that blocks pregnancy.

“I think more and more providers have become aware and knowledgeable of these methods and are recommending them to their patients,” Brite said.
I posted that quote from the President of Planned Parenthood for a reason. I'm surprised to see she's pleased about the decrease in a abortions.

TO be sure I'm pleased. The emphasis should be more on prevention of unwanted pregnancies than on abortions. Who knows why there is a decrease in Abortions in my state.

It makes me wonder why this little statistic is included in an analysis of unemployment rates not only in Illinois but with neighboring states as seen on Capitol Fax today!


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