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Three Decades of Legal Abortion:
New Research and Analysis

New Research Documents Declines in Rates, Numbers and Access to Abortion Services
The U.S. abortion rate continues to decline and is now at the lowest level since 1974, down to 21.3 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 in 2000, according to AGI's 13th survey of all known abortion providers in the United States, first conducted in 1973. This survey also found that, between 1996 and 2000, the abortion rate declined in every region of the country, in 35 states and the District of Columbia.

Additional resources on abortion:

Emergency Contraception (EC) Played Key Role in Abortion Rate Declines
A substantial proportion of the 11% decline in abortion rates between 1994 and 2000 was due to women's use of emergency contraception, according to a new analysis of contraceptive use among more than 10,000 U.S. women having abortions in 2000-2001. Forty-six percent of women surveyed were not using a contraceptive method in the month in which they became pregnant, whereas 54% were using a method.

For more information on Emergency Contraception

U.S. Abortion Rates Continue to Decline, Especially Among Teens
The overall abortion rate in the United States decreased by 11% between 1994 and 2000, from 24 to 21 abortions each year per 1,000 women aged 15-44. This decline was not shared equally among all groups, and rates increased among economically disadvantaged women.





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