Number of induced abortions down by almost 8 percent in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Health released its annual induced abortion report today, which showed a continuation of the state’s 20-year trend in declining abortion totals. The report showed abortions down almost 8 percent, from 12,388 in 2009 to 11,505 in 2010.

“We see the drop in numbers as a very positive development,” said Sarah Stoesz, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota. “As the state’s leading provider of reproductive health care and education, our focus has always been on preventing unintended pregnancy and helping women and families make choices that help them stay healthy and plan their futures.

Last year, Planned Parenthood provided 63,344 women and men across the region with affordable, quality, compassionate reproductive health care; dispended 350,639 units of contraception, and reached 24,000 people through education programs that emphasize responsible leadership in youths and parent-child connectedness.

Planned Parenthood also remains a strong advocate of the nation’s 41-year-old Title X family planning services program for low-income women and of the Institute of Medicine’s recent recommendation that birth control be considered a preventive health service and therefore be covered by health plans without co-pays for millions of women.

“We know that family planning programs work, that they save money and that they are absolutely critical to preventive health care,” said Stoesz. “We will always remain committed to providing care and information to anyone who needs it, regardless of ability to pay.