Abortion Rate Reportedly Hits 18-Year Low

ATLANTA — The nation’s abortion rate has dropped to its lowest level in 18 years, the government reported Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 21 of every 1,000 women age 15 to 44 had an abortion in 1994--the smallest number since 1976.

About 1.2 million abortions were performed in 1994, down from 1.3 million the year before and the fourth straight decline. In 1976, 988,267 abortions were performed.

Although the CDC gave no detailed explanation for the drop, other organizations cited harassment by demonstrators; efforts by antiabortion activists to inform women of alternatives to abortion; a lack of abortion services, particularly in rural areas; and better access to birth control, resulting in fewer unwanted pregnancies.

The CDC began tracking abortions in 1972. Abortion was legalized nationwide in 1973. The CDC says 1994 is the latest year for which figures are available.

The peak year for abortion was 1990, when there were 1.4 million. The profile of women who had an abortion in 1994 hasn’t differed from previous years: Most were white, single and younger than 25.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Alan Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health organization, said one reason may be that it’s more difficult to get abortions.

“We know that abortion services have become less available,” said Susan Tew, a Guttmacher Institute spokeswoman in New York. “Abortion services are more concentrated in urban areas, for instance, and services are more problematic for women because of harassment.”

Gloria Feldt, president of Planned Parenthood, said 84% of the nation’s counties have no doctor who performs abortions.

Laura Echevarria, a spokeswoman for the National Right to Life Committee, said the abortion rate probably is dropping because of education efforts by her group and others.

“We point them in the direction of a church or a pregnancy crisis center, and tell them that there are other alternatives besides abortion,” she said. “You have to make sure women know where they can turn.”