The Department of Health abortion statistics published on 27 July 2005 show a slight increase of 2.1% in the number of abortions for England & Wales, totalling 185,400 for 2004. But we these figures should be analysed in conjunction with the total number of women of child-bearing age and the total number of pregnancies.  Overall less than 2% of women opted for abortion this year, which is only a 0.3% increase.

Women between the ages of 20 - 24 continue to be the largest users of abortion services a clear indication that inadequate sex and relationships education in schools and lack to appropriate contraceptive advice are still key issues. In countries with comprehensive sex and relationships education programmes, such as the Netherlands, there is a much lower incidence of unintended pregnancy and abortion. 

The latest figures also indicate a welcome drop in the number of abortions to under 18’s. This implies the government teenage pregnancy strategy is showing clear signs of working and hopefully the issue can be tackled more effectively in future.

Anne Quesney, Director of Abortion Rights, said:

“We would all like to see a decrease in the number of abortions, but we must remember that no method of contraception is 100% effective, that unintended pregnancies will always happen. We must ensure that women are able to make informed choices about their lives and we must trust them to make the best decisions when it comes to controlling their fertility”.

A recent study undertaken by the London School for Economics into the factors that most improved women’s lives since the Second World War showed that birth control, that is access to contraception and safe abortion, were ranking top of the list.

ENDS

For further information and interviews with Abortion Rights or a late abortion surgeon please contact Anne Quesney, Abortion Rights Director on 020 7278 5539 or mobile 07909 974 101.

Notes to editor:

1. Abortion Rights is the only abortion focussed campaigning and advocacy organisation in the UK. We lead the campaigns to defend and extend abortion rights and provide a pro-choice voice to the media.

2. Abortion Rights is campaigning to:

• Oppose any restrictions to women’s current rights and access to abortion

• Liberalise the current UK abortion law and make abortion available on request in the first three months and with one doctor’s signature thereafter.

• Improve access to, and experience of, abortion – ensure that all women in the UK have equal access to safe, legal and free abortion.

3. Abortion in the UK

• One in three women has an abortion in her lifetime

• 76 per cent of the British population support a woman’s right to choose.

• Abortion laws in the UK are more restrictive than in almost every other European country, where abortion on request is legal in the first three months of pregnancy

• Abortion has been legal in Britain since 1967, but only by permission of two doctors and in restricted circumstances

• Ten per cent of GPs consider themselves to be conscientious objectors and frequently refuse to grant women an abortion, despite General Medical Council guidelines.

• A quarter of women having abortions in England and Wales have to pay for them - there are no public funds available specifically to help poorer women in these circumstances

Department of Health link to abortion statistics: