2008 Woodie Awards
Number of abortions down
Ben Travers - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Metro
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While there has been a decrease in the total number of abortions worldwide, there has been no change in the unsafe abortion rate, according to a study released by the Guttmacher Institute on Oct. 13.
The study by the nonprofit organization examined abortion trends from 1995 to 2003 and showed that 48 percent of the procedures worldwide were deemed unsafe, with 97 percent of those occurred in developing regions in which abortions are illegal.
Some say the high cost of the procedure in the United States results in some of the unsafe abortions. Emma Goldman Clinic's rates are based on family income, a woman's insurance coverage, and how far along the woman is in the pregnancy said Karen Kubby, the executive director of the clinic. The customary fee is $575, but the clinic will lower the rate for qualifying individuals.
Other organizations, such as the National Network of Abortion Funds, help to provide women in need of financial assistance the means to undergo a safe, clean procedure.
Stephanie Poggi, the executive director of the network, said the legalization of abortion alone would not end the practice of unsafe abortions.
"Legality is not enough," she said. "It's always necessary to combine legality with access. We have to work for economic support."
She noted that 70 percent of the women the network serves are already mothers.
Kubby, whose clinic works with the organization, said an infection stemming from an unsafe abortion can lead to reduced fertility, infertility, or death.
"It needs to be clean," she said. "It doesn't have to be in an operating environment, [but] chances for infection increase when using non-sterilized equipment."
The overall drop in abortions could be caused by both positive and negative trends, she said. The positive aspects are the availability of emergency contraception and the availability of numerous kinds of birth control. Kubby listed the cultural stigma surrounding abortion and the inaccessibility of the health-care system as two negative trends forcing abortion numbers to decline.
The study by the nonprofit organization examined abortion trends from 1995 to 2003 and showed that 48 percent of the procedures worldwide were deemed unsafe, with 97 percent of those occurred in developing regions in which abortions are illegal.
Some say the high cost of the procedure in the United States results in some of the unsafe abortions. Emma Goldman Clinic's rates are based on family income, a woman's insurance coverage, and how far along the woman is in the pregnancy said Karen Kubby, the executive director of the clinic. The customary fee is $575, but the clinic will lower the rate for qualifying individuals.
Other organizations, such as the National Network of Abortion Funds, help to provide women in need of financial assistance the means to undergo a safe, clean procedure.
Stephanie Poggi, the executive director of the network, said the legalization of abortion alone would not end the practice of unsafe abortions.
"Legality is not enough," she said. "It's always necessary to combine legality with access. We have to work for economic support."
She noted that 70 percent of the women the network serves are already mothers.
Kubby, whose clinic works with the organization, said an infection stemming from an unsafe abortion can lead to reduced fertility, infertility, or death.
"It needs to be clean," she said. "It doesn't have to be in an operating environment, [but] chances for infection increase when using non-sterilized equipment."
The overall drop in abortions could be caused by both positive and negative trends, she said. The positive aspects are the availability of emergency contraception and the availability of numerous kinds of birth control. Kubby listed the cultural stigma surrounding abortion and the inaccessibility of the health-care system as two negative trends forcing abortion numbers to decline.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Jessica Maes
posted 10/16/07 @ 12:07 PM CST
I think that it's crazy to get abortions because women and teens... they either don't think about foster care or they don't think about foster care or they don't no body to know about them having a child in the first place but either way family or friends are going to find about it. (Continued…)
right
posted 10/16/07 @ 3:22 PM CST
Were you drunk when you typed that? Because I have NO idea what the heck you just said.
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