Ohio Abortions Decline for Tenth Consecutive Year
Historically Low Number of Abortions Reported in 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rachel Schlater
DATE: Friday, September 30, 2011
PHONE: (614) 547-0099 ext. 309
(COLUMBUS, OH) – Ohio abortions have reached an all-time low, declining for the tenth consecutive year, according to the latest report released by the Ohio Department of Health. The 2010 Abortion Report revealed a decrease of approximately 600 abortions from 2009 for a state total of 28,123 abortions performed in 2010. The new statistics show that abortions in Ohio have declined a total of 26% since the year 2000. Since 1982, when reported abortions peaked, the number of abortions in Ohio has decreased by nearly 40%.
“During the past decade, more and more women and families chose life in Ohio,” Ohio Right to Life Executive Director Mike Gonidakis said. “While we will not rest until the number of reported abortions is zero, each year these statistics reaffirm our statewide pro-life strategies which focus on supporting young women through our pregnancy centers, promoting adoption and identifying common sense legislative solutions to end abortion. Moms are being protected, more babies are alive today and we can all agree that this is good public policy,” said Gonidakis.
The 2010 Ohio Abortion Report reports shows that of all abortions:
- The majority occur in the metropolitan areas of Cuyahoga County at 36.8%, Franklin at 19.2%, and Hamilton at 17.8%;
- The majority are performed on women younger than 24 years old;
- 37.1% are performed upon black women (while only 12.2% of the population is black);
- 56.6% occur during the first 9 weeks of gestation; and,
- 83% are performed upon women who are unmarried.
“Ohio Right to Life will continue enacting a targeted, truthful and compassionate educational approach for young women and men to combat the manipulative marketing campaigns of Planned Parenthood,” said Gonidakis.
“In July, Governor John Kasich signed our late-term abortion ban. Had this law been enacted last year, up to 629 more babies could be alive in Ohio today. No longer will babies who can live outside their mother’s womb be put to death in Ohio,” said Gonidakis.
The 2010 abortion report can be reviewed in its entirety by visiting ohiolife.org.
Ohio Right to Life, the affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee, is a statewide, non-profit, non-sectarian educational organization. For more than 40 years, Ohio Right to Life continues to experience success in its mission to promote and protect life due to its dedicated board members, executive staff and affiliated chapters located throughout the state.