Abortion Rate Drops in Ohio

Religion Today | Published: Oct 05, 2012

Abortion Rate Drops in Ohio

A report released Oct. 1 by the Ohio Department of Health shows the Buckeye State currently is experiencing the most significant annual decline in abortions in more than a decade, WORLD News Service reports. According to the report, the number of surgical abortions has decreased 12 percent from 2010 to 2011 -- from 28,123 to 24,764. Meanwhile, chemical abortions dropped a whopping 79 percent, down to 1,234, over the same period. "Any time you have reduction in the amount of abortions, that's good," said Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values. "The fact that we still had 24,000-plus abortions in Ohio last year is still a great concern." Abortion activists attributed the drop to fewer unintended pregnancies and new pro-life legislation, according to The Columbus Dispatch. A 2004 Ohio law restricts the use of mifepristone, also known as RU-486, which can induce abortion. Burress said the decline could be related to abstinence-education programs in schools and sidewalk counselors who pray with women and girls outside clinics before their scheduled abortions. He said it could also be related to technological advances, which helps people understand "that it's a baby and not a blob of tissue."



Abortion Rate Drops in Ohio