Number Of Abortions Decline In Minnesota

ST. PAUL  (AP) - The number of abortions has declined for the fourth consecutive year in Minnesota.

The state Department of Health says 11,505 abortions were performed by physicians in 2010, a decrease of 7 percent from the number done in 2009. Health officials say the rate of abortions in 2010 may be an all-time low with 10.1 procedures per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. It rivals a rate of 10.3 per 1,000 women in Minnesota set in 1975, when the state initially began collecting data.

The most recent rate is based on a 2009 population estimate, which could change once the 2010 population figure is available.

Planned Parenthood, which performed the greatest number of abortions in
Minnesota last year, attributed the decline to improved access to affordable birth control.

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