Wisconsin Abortions Drop for Fifth Straight Year, Set Record for Lowest Since Roe

From http://lifenews.com/state4268.html

Wisconsin Abortions Drop for Fifth Straight Year, Set Record for Lowest Since Roe

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
July 1, 2009

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Madison, WI (LifeNews.com) -- The number of abortions in Wisconsin declined for the fifth straight year last year and now stand at their lowest total since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. State health officials reported today that 8,229 babies were aborted in 2008, which is 40 fewer than in 2007.

Abortions have now declined for the last five years and the last time the state passed the 10,000 mark was in 2003.

Wisconsin Right to Life director Barbara Lyons tells LifeNews.com that the efforts of pro-life groups and pregnancy centers are working.

She said that the drop wasn't as much as the previous report because two abortion centers that were closed remained open throughout 2008.

“Although the percent drop was less that 1% in 2008, any drop is significant following the 14% decrease in 2007 fueled by the closing of two abortion clinics for seven months in that year," she said. "Those two clinics, in Appleton and Milwaukee, were open for the entire year of 2008.”

The new state figures showed the abortion ratio, the number of abortions per 100 live births, remained at 11.

“The abortion ratio is a key indicator because it reveals how many pregnant women abort or have their babies," Lyons told LifeNews.com. "Wisconsin’s abortion ratio is 11 compared to the national ratio of 24. This makes Wisconsin a national leader in numbers of women who have their babies."

Lyons says the abortion drop is partially because of a change in pro-life thinking in the next generation of young people.

“Fueling the decline are the young people known as the millenials (ages 17-29)," she explained. "Numerous studies by groups who favor and oppose abortion indicate that the millenials are far more pro-life than their predecessors in Generation X."

"Since the millenials are now of the age when most abortions are performed (ages 18-34) we can expect to see further abortion declines as the millenials assert their values to allow a child to reach his/her potential," Lyons continued.

Television commercials promoting the pro-life ethic and directing women to pregnancy centers also help.

"The Wisconsin Right to Life television campaign aired under the name of the Veritas Society has reached millions in their homes for the past 14 years and has contributed significantly to the Wisconsin abortion decline,” continued Lyons.

Related web sites:
Wisconsin Right to Life - http://www.wrtl.org