The latest statistics from the Arizona Department of Health Services show a 7.3 percent decrease in abortions performed in Arizona year to year. Thanks in part to the growing prolife movement in the state, there were 1,079 fewer women harmed by abortion, and fewer preborn lives lost in August 2011-July 2012 (13,627) compared to August 2010-July 2011 (14,706).
On Friday, the Arizona Department of Health Services released their annual statistical report on abortions in Arizona. Initial media reports claimed a 25% increase in abortions in 2011 compared to 2010. As the DHS report indicates, however, abortion providers were not required to report abortion numbers until August of 2010. Consequently, any reports prior to August 2010 are unreliable.
“You’re comparing apples to oranges if you look at 2010 to 2011,” said Cathi Herrod, president of Center for Arizona Policy. “It wasn’t until Senate Bill 1304 took effect in August of 2010 that abortion providers were required to furnish accurate data on the number of abortions they were performing. So, it wasn’t until August 2010 that we began to get a more complete picture of these statistics.”
The chart below shows the difference in abortions performed August 2010-July 2011 compared to August 2011 – July 2012.
“In recent years, Arizona has seen a number of common sense abortion safety standards and informed consent provisions take effect. It is encouraging to see that more and more moms are choosing life,” said Herrod.
Resources
- AZ DHS 2010 Report: http://1.usa.gov/ObphVj
- AZ DHS 2011 Report: http://1.usa.gov/QYeVGS
- AZ DHS August 2010-July 2012 abortion totals: http://bit.ly/RDVNKY
- These revised numbers were provided to Center for Arizona Policy upon request.
- 2012 numbers are preliminary statistics.
- CAP-supported SB 1304, enacted August 2010: http://1.usa.gov/NATJqA