Minnesota abortions lowest since 1975

The Minnesota Department of Health just announced the state’s 2010 abortion statistics. Abortions dropped 7% from 2009. This is the fourth straight year of decline, and the lowest number of abortions since the mid-1970s!

The decline is unusual, because the state’s population has grown considerably since 1975. In addition, we would expect the number of abortions to increase dramatically during an economic downturn, since most abortions are done for socioeconomic reasons.

Thanks to the efforts of pro-life Minnesotans, this did not happen. Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) credits several factors. First among these is the Positive Alternatives program, legistated in 2006, which provides grants to pregnancy support organizations. Positive Alternatives has served over 25,000 women. Other pro-life victories that likely played a role in the decline are the Women’s Right to Know law, which requires abortion centers to tell patients the truth about fetal development, and the requirement of parental notification for minors seeking abortions.

While this news is encouraging, pro-life advocates will not rest until abortions are down to zero:

“The fact that 11,505 pregnant women last year still believed that abortion was their only or best option underscores the enormous need for women to find alternatives to abortion,” [MCCL director Scott] Fischbach said. “Minnesota needs to continue to establish greater protections for unborn children and their mothers. The Department of Health statistics clearly show that help provided by Positive Alternatives and other legislative measures drive down abortion numbers as women find life-affirming alternatives.”