NEW YORK CITY RELEASES 2010 ABORTION DATA;
LITTLE PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS YEAR
City Pregnancies Ending in Abortion 40%, Down from 41% in 2009
48% in the Bronx and 60% Among African-Americans, Same as in 2009
New York, NY, January 5...More than 83,000 abortions were performed in New York City in 2010 - a full 40% of all pregnancies - down from 41% in 2009 - the New York City-based Chiaroscuro Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that supports alternatives to abortion, today said. The 2010 data was just released to the public by the New York City Department of Health. For the first time ever, the abortion and pregnancy statistics were itemized separately as requested by the Foundation one year ago this week.
"We are glad that fewer abortions were performed in 2010, following a national trend over the past couple of decades, but obviously we would like to see much more significant progress moving forward," said Greg Pfundstein, Executive Director of the Chiaroscuro Foundation. "In parts of the city more than half of all pregnancies end in abortion - this is very, very disturbing."
New York City has the highest abortion rates in the nation - nearly double the national average of 23%.
The Chiaroscuro Foundation, along with the Archdiocese of New York and other civic and religious organizations, last year requested that the city separate the abortion and pregnancy data from the overall vital statistics report. The group also asked that the city release data more swiftly. 2009 statistics were released in December 2010. 2010 statistics were released in December 2011.
"I commend the city for making the extra effort to itemize abortion and pregnancy information separately as we requested last year," said Pfundstein. "It is important for concerned New Yorkers to have ready access to information about the alarming abortion rate in the city. We would also like to see a more speedy reporting process. A 12-month turn around time to compile and release the previous year's data is simply too long for an issue of such great importance. We need information faster so that we can spot trends in our communities - see where things are working and where they aren't."
The city implemented mandatory sex education curriculum for middle and high school students starting this month, in part, to reduce the abortion and pregnancy rate. The public will not know what affect, if any, curriculums implemented this month will have had until December 2013.
A spreadsheet of New York City abortion statistics from 1994-2010 is attached and available here.
According to the most recent statistics, just made available by the New York City Department of Health:
- There were 208,541 pregnancies in New York City in 2010. They resulted in 124,791 live births and 83,750 abortions, a 40% abortion rate.
- Among non-Hispanic blacks there were far more abortions than births, 38,574 to 26,635, or 60%. So for every 1,000 African-American babies born, 1,448 were aborted.
- Among Non-Hispanic black teens, the abortion rate was even greater - 5,956 abortions to 2,265 live births, or 72%. For every 1,000 African-American babies born to teens, 2,630 were aborted.
- The abortion rate among teens as a whole was 63% - 12,139 abortions to 7,207 live births. For every 1,000 babies born among New York City teens 1,684 were aborted.
- 16% of all pregnancies in New York City - 14% of abortions - were with teen mothers.
- 54% of abortions were with mothers in their 20's;
- 30% of abortions were with mothers in their 30's or 40's;
- 14% of abortions were with married mothers.
Two-thirds of New Yorkers (64%) - including 57% of pro-choice women - think too many abortions are taking place in New York City every year, more than half of city residents (51%) would support a 24-hour waiting period before abortion procedures can take place, and 63% of city residents support parental consent before anyone under the age of 18 can have an abortion, according to a comprehensive citywide poll conducted last year by McLaughlin & Associates and released by The Chiaroscuro Foundation.
