UK: Abortion statistics show small decline

The abortion rate has dropped for the second year running in England and Wales, official statistics show.

But experts said it was still too early to say whether there was a downward trend, BBC News Online reports.

The total number of abortions was 189,100 in 2009 - a rate of 17.5 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. This compares to 18.2 in 2008, and comes after a general upward trend for the past 40 years which peaked in 2007.

The abortion rate in Scotland also fell last year to 12.4 per 1,000.

The statistics, released today by the Department of Health, show that in 2009, for women resident in England and Wales:

* The total number of abortions was 189,100,compared with 195,296 in 2008, a fall of 3.2%

* The age-standardised abortion rate was 17.5 per 1,000 resident women aged 15-44, compared with 18.2 in 2008

* The abortion rate was highest at 33 per 1,000, for women aged 19, 20 & 21, each lower than in 2008

* The under-16 abortion rate was 4.0 and the under-18 rate was 17.6 per 1,000 women, both lower than in 2008

* 94% of abortions were funded by the NHS; of these, over half (60%) took place in the independent sector under NHS contract

* 91% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks’ gestation; 75% were at under 10 weeks

* Medical abortions accounted for 40% of the total

* 2,085 abortions (1%) were under ground E, risk that the child would be born handicapped

* In 2009, there were 6,643 abortions for nonresidents carried out in hospitals and clinics in England and Wales (6,862 in 2008)

Ann Furedi, chief executive of BPAS, said:

‘It’s interesting to see that fewer abortions took place last year, for the second year running. However abortion figures tend to fluctuate slightly year-on-year so we can’t call this a trend yet, especially with the background of the last few decades’ gradual rise in the numbers of abortions.

‘We’re really pleased that a greater proportion of abortions took place at the earliest stages in 2009. There has been a 2% rise in the number of abortions at under of 10 weeks, which now make up three quarters of all abortions. In fact, 91% of all abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks of pregnancy. This probably indicates that better NHS funding has helped to build in more of the capacity needed to care for women when they need it.

‘There’s also been a lot of work done to improve women’s access to the most modern contraceptive methods, but we still know that the pill and condoms, the UK’s most commonly used contraceptives, have relatively high failure rates in typical use. Sex is also not always planned or prepared for, so it’s essential that the contraception and abortion services and the choice of methods offered reflect individual women’s needs.

‘Unintended pregnancy and abortion will always be facts of life, because women want to make sure the time is right for them to take on the important role of becoming a parent. Abortion statistics are reflective of women’s very serious consideration regarding that significant role within their current situation.’

Caution over abortion rate fall. BBC News Online, 25 May 2010

Abortion statistics, England and Wales: 2009. Department of Health, 25 May 2010

BPAS comments on new abortion statistics confirming a 3.2% fall in abortion numbers in England and Wales in 2009. BPAS, 25 May 2010