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Abortion – Statistics/Demographics/Maternal Deaths from Abortion,1940-1972

by | Feb 14, 2004 | General Information / History / Stats / Types

  • On January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions, by 7-2 votes, basically legalized abortion  in the U.S. through all 9 months of pregnancy by providing women with a “right to privacy” and defining “health of the mother”  as physical and emotional.
  • It is legal to obtain an abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy for elective reasons in all 50 states. (Check out the yellow pages under “Abortion Services” and  read the ads.)
  • The estimated total number of preborn legally killed by abortion in the U.S. 1973-2003, is 41,500,000. These were future workers, consumers, tax payers, musicians, leaders, scientists, doctors, teachers, and inventors.
    • Since 1973, abortion numbers increased until approximately 4,300 U.S. abortions occurred per day [1,550,000/yr, CDC figures]. In 1992, numbers began to drop slightly; by 1995, about 3,315 preborn were aborted per day. By 1997, the daily average number of abortions was 3,249 (1,186,039 preborn aborted in 1997).
  • Since 1997, three states no longer report to the CDC (CA, AK, NH); this makes it more difficult to estimate actual U.S. abortion numbers. CDC figures are about 12% lower than those released by the AGI (Alan Guttmacher Inst -Planned Parenthood).
  • 19%-20% of U.S. women obtaining legal abortions in 2000 were teenagers, aged 10-19; about 33% were aged 20-24 years [CDC, 2000].
  • Thus, of the approximately 1.3 million abortions every year in the U.S., about 50-55% of the women having abortions are under 25 years old [National Abortion Federation]
  • Since 1973, approx. 41.5 MILLION babies have been legally destroyed by surgical abortion. According to industry trade group Computing Technology Industry Association, the US is NOT able to fill 269,000 high-tech jobs, costing US businesses about $4.5 billion annually in lost production. [HLA Action News, Spring 00]
    • Only 1% – 2% of the approximately 1.3 million U.S. abortions each year are for the “hard cases” – rape and incest.
    • In the U.S., late-term abortions destroy about 12,000-17,000 unborn humans, aged 21 weeks or older (5-9 months), each year; this averages to 33-46 late-term abortions every day [CDC].
    •  Partial-birth Infanticides are always elective: in a partial-birth abortion, in the fifth month of pregnancy or later, the abortionist pulls out of the womb a living baby, feet-first, all but the head.  The skull is punctured at its base and the brain is suctioned out. The now-dead baby is completely delivered. Multitudes of physicians, and the American Medical Association, attest that this procedure is never necessary to save the life of a mother.
  • About 25%, that is, 1 of every 4, American babies conceived will die by abortion.
  • About 43%-50% of all U.S. abortions are repeat abortions; that is, the women have experienced previous abortions.
  • Abortion is the #1 frequently performed surgery in the USA.
  • Women who report no religious affiliation are about 4 times more likely to have an abortion than women who report some religious affiliation.
    • Although African-Americans compose about 13% of the U.S. population, Black women had 36.3% of the 857,475 reported CDC abortions in 2000 = 311,263 abortions (some states do not report).
    • Every day, over 853 African-American babies were killed by abortion in 2000 [CA, NH, AK not included]: 35 Black babies each hour. The U.S. abortion rate for Black women is 3 times higher than for white women. This has been a consistent trend since the late 1970s.
  • Hispanic women are 2 times more likely than whites to abort.
    • In Alabama, 2002 data indicate that 10,648 abortions were performed at 10 licensed abortion sites. At least 4,851 women were White and 5,797 were Black & Other.
    • While Blacks compose about 26% of the population of Alabama, Black women procured over 54% of the abortions in Alabama in 2002 [Center for Health Statistics, ADPH]
    • In 2002, 795 Alabama girls under age 18 procured abortions; ages 10-19 procured 19% of AL abortions, and women aged 20-24 procured 35% of all abortions.
    • About 29.2 preborn Alabama babies are aborted each day.
    • Approximately 3000 preborn American babies are aborted each day in the U.S.
  • Worldwide, each year, an estimated 50 million abortions occur (about 1 million abortions per week) [Facts in Brief”, published by The Alan Guttmacher Institute, research arm of Planned Parenthood, 1/1997] 
    • Research studies have shown the risk of substance abuse in women increases 4-5 times following an abortion.
    • Now 29 of 39 studies worldwide (including 13 of 15 American research studies) show a significant link between Abortion and the development of Breast Cancer (ABC Link). One study (Dahling, a pro-abortion researcher) indicates that girls under 18 who abort their first pregnancy increase their risk of breast cancer by 150% (if the abortion is between the 9th and 24th week of pregnancy, the risk is 800%). [Dr. Janet Dahling, Jrnl of the National Cancer Inst, vol 86, no.21, 2Nov94]. [www.abortionbreastcancer.com]
    • Abortion can be physically and emotionally harmful for women.
  • Abortion Hurts Women…
    Abortion Is Forever…

    •                        [Family Research Council, 2003, www.frc.org]

     

     HOW MANY HAVE WE LOST?
    AMERICAN WAR CASUALTIES

    Revolutionary War     25,324

     Civil War                498,332

    WWI                       116,708

    WWII                      407,316

    Korean War            54,246

     Vietnam War         58,655        

    War Against the Unborn  43,000,000     (2004)

     

    • Only about 1%-2% of the approximately 1.3 million U.S. abortions  each  year are for the “hard cases”: rape, incest, mother’s life.
    • It is legal to obtain an abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy for elective reasons in all 50 states. (Check out the yell
      ow pages under “Abortion Services”
      and  read the ads.)

    • Partial-birth “Abortion” is elective; that is, it is not necessary to save the life of the mother. It also is not an “abortion” because the human child is in the birth canal, not in the uterus. Thus, it is actually Infanticide.  During a partial-birth abortion, in the fifth  month of pregnancy or later, the abortionist pulls out of the womb a living baby  feet-first, all but the head.  The skull is punctured and the brain suctioned out, and the now-dead baby is delivered. Multitudes of physicians attest that this procedure is not necessary to save the life of a mother.
    • Women who report no religious affiliation are about 4 times more likely to have an abortion than women who report some religious affiliation
    • When they enter college, 37% of women support abortion. Four years later, 73% support abortion. [Insight Magazine, 10/01-8/01; HLA Action News, Fall 2001]
    • Approximately 84,000 college women become pregnant every year. [Washington Times, 7Mar01]
    • On average, women give at least 3 reasons for choosing abortion: ¾ say a baby would interfere with work, school, etc.; about 2/3 say they cannot afford a child; and ½ say they do not want to be a single parent.

    Abortion is physically and emotionally dangerous for women

    • Abortion is purported as a decision between a woman and her doctor.  Yet, over 90% of all abortions are performed at abortion sites  where the pregnant  woman usually sees the doctor for the first  and only time when he arrives for the 15-minute “procedure”.
    • Child abuse, poverty and crime, which were supposed to decrease with legal abortion, have not.
    • A large percentage of abortion sites operating currently are not licensed as ambulatory  surgical facilities.  As such, they are not monitored by State  health agencies and are not required to meet basic standards of health quality set forth by State guidelines.  States such as South Carolina are beginning to regulate abortion sites.  However, many abortion providers are fighting these regulations.
    • Abortion may be legal, but it is not safe. There are two victims – one is dead; one is wounded.
    • Abortion exploits women: It is usually done by men (most  abortionists are  men). It is usually done for the benefit of men (keeps them from taking responsibility for their actions).  Abortion is a very lucrative business.
    • Abortion harms women: Physically: approximately 10% of first trimester legal abortions display complications. According  to major studies, the risk of breast cancer is increased 50% if the first baby is aborted; other complications  include bleeding, infections, uterine perforation, complications in future pregnancies, and sometimes death. Emotionally: 90% suffer post abortion stress syndrome (PASS)  — guilt,  anger, depression, nightmares, alcohol abuse (5 times  more likely), drug  abuse, and suicide ideation.

     

    TABLE I

    The United States
    TOTAL ABORTION DEATHS  OTHER MATERNAL DEATHS  TOTAL MATERNAL DEATHS
    Year      White Non-White Total   White Non-White    Total   White  Non-White  Total

    1942  917    314    1,231  4,598  1,438   6,036   5,515   1,752   7,267
    1943  853    312    1,165  4,610  1,422   6,032   5,463   1,734   7,197
    1944  695    201       986  3,953  1,421   5,473   4,468   1,622   6,369
    1945  602    286       888  3,520  1,260   4,780   4,122   1,546   5,668
    1946  535    225       760  3,272  1,121   4,493   3,807   1,346   5,253
    1947  385    200       585  3,170  1,223   4,393   3,555   1,423   4,978
    1948  321    175       496  2,432  1,194   3,626   2,753   1,369   4,122
    1949  236    158       394  1,863     959   2,822   2,099   1,117  3,216
    1950  193    123       316  1,680     964   2,644   1,873   1,087  2,960
    1951  170    133       303  1,608     901   2,509   1,778   1,034  2,812
    1952  196    124       320  1,428     862   2,290   1,624      986  2,610
    1953  162    132       294  1,317     774   2,091   1,479      906  2,385
    1954  156    131       287  1,124     694   1,818   1,280      825  2,105
    1955  150    116       266     984     651   1,635   1,134     767   1,901
    1956  138      83       221    880     601    1,481  1,081      684  1,702
    1957  126    134       260     871     615   1,486     997      749  1,746
    1958  136    123       259     802     520   1,322     938      643  1,581
    1959  138    146       284     789     515   1,304     927      661  1,588
    1960           &nbsp
    ;       &nb
    sp;   289                      1,290                       1,579
    1961                       324                      1,249                      1,573 
    1962                       305                      1,160                       1,465
    1963                       272                      1,466                       1,738
    1964  117    130       247      634    462   1,096     751      592  1,343
    1965  106    129       235      550    404      954     656      533  1,189
    1966    96     93       189      509     351     860     605      444  1,049
    1967    76     84       160      495     332     827     571      416    987 
    1968                       133                         726                         859
    1969                       132                         669                         801
    1970                       128                         675                         803
    1971                       120                         610                         730
    1972                       140                         640                         780
    1973                                  NOT   YET  AVAILABLE (in 1974)
    [National Center for Health Statistics] [taken from testimony of Hellegers, M.D., Abortion: Help or Hindrance to Public Health?, found elsewhere in this abortion section]

     

    Table 2

    Maternal Abortion Deaths
    1940-1985

    Estimated Number of Deaths Due To:    
                                                                                              Total Number
             Abortions Induced   Illegal     Spontaneous  Induced Abortion
    Year for Legal Reasons  Abortions    Abortions     Maternal Deaths

    1940            94                1,313           272                   1,407
    1941            78                1,080           224                   1,158
    1942            70                   962           199                   1,032 
    1943            65                   910           189                     975
    1944   &n
    bsp;      &nbs
    p; 55                   770           160                     825
    1945            50                   694           144                     744
    1946            43                   593           123                     636
    1947            33                   457             95                    490
    1948            28                   388             80                    416
    1949            26                   298             70                    324
    1950            17                   246             53                    263
    1951            31                   226             46                    257
    1952            21                   249             50                    270
    1953            14                   230             50                    244
    1954            21                   223             43                    244
    1955            13                   211             42                    224
    1956            11                   174             36                    185
    1957            10                   209             41                    219
    1958             1                    215             43                    216
    1959             5                    235             44                    240
    1960            10                   241             38                    251
    1961             4                    271             49                    275
    1962             5                    253             47                    258
    1963             5                    234             41                    239
    1964             5                    207             35                    212
    1965       &nb
    sp;     4  &
    nbsp;                 197             34                    201
    1966             1                    159             29                    160
    1967             4                    135             21                    139
    1968             2                    109             22                    111
    1969             1                    115             16                    116
    1970            10                   109               9                    119
    1971            15                     75              9                      90
    1972            24                     41             25                      65
    1973            25                     22             10                      47
    1974            26                      7              21                     33
    1975            29                      5              14                     34
    1976            11                      3              13                     14
    1977            17                      4              16                     21
    1978             9                       8               9                     17
    1979            18                      0               9                     18         

    1980             9                       2               6                     11
    1981             7                       1               3                      8
    1982            11                       1              6                     12
    1983            10                       1              7                     11
    1984            11                       1              6      &
    nbsp;     &
    nbsp;        12
    1985             6                       2              6                       8

    Sources: Data for 1940-1971 are from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS); data for 1972-1985 (the last year for which data are available) are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Through 1971, the “Illegal Abortion Deaths” column is the sum of deaths reported as due to “Abortions Induced for Other Reasons” and “Other and Unspecified Abortions” by NCHS. (NCHS reports abortion-related deaths as due to these two causes as well as to “Abortions Induced for Legal Reasons” or “Spontaneous Abortions.”) From 1972 onward, the “Illegal Abortion Deaths” column aggregates those reported by CDC under that heading as well as those reported as “Other” and “Unknown”.

    [Life Without Roe, Horatio R. Storer Foundation, p.11]

     

     

    Industy Losses. Since 1973, approx. 41.5 MILLION babies have been legally destroyed by surgical abortion. According to industry trade group Computing Technology Industry Assoc, the US is NOT able to fill 269,000 high-tech jobs, costing US businesses about $4.5 billion annually in lost production. [HLA Action News, Spring 00]