The foundation that released shocking abortion numbers from New York City last year — turning it into what observers called the abortion capital of the Untied States — has new figures from the Big Apple. They haven’t changed.
More than 83,000 abortions were performed in New York City in 2010 — making it so 40 percent of all pregnancies in the nation’s largest city end in abortion. That’s virtually unchanged from the 41 percent that ended in abortion in 2009, according to the city health department.
The New York City-based Chiaroscuro Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that supports alternatives to abortion, released the figures to LifeNews after the 2010 data was just released to the public by the New York City Department of Health. For the first time ever, the abortion and pregnancy statistics were itemized separately as requested by the Foundation one year ago this week.
“We are glad that fewer abortions were performed in 2010, following a national trend over the past couple of decades, but obviously we would like to see much more significant progress moving forward,” said Greg Pfundstein, Executive Director of the Chiaroscuro Foundation. “In parts of the city more than half of all pregnancies end in abortion – this is very, very disturbing.”
New York City has the highest abortion rates in the nation – nearly double the national average of 23%.
According to the most recent statistics, just made available by the New York City Department of Health:
* There were 208,541 pregnancies in New York City in 2010. They resulted in 124,791 live births and 83,750 abortions, a 40% abortion rate.
* Among non-Hispanic blacks there were far more abortions than births, 38,574 to 26,635, or 60%. So for every 1,000 African-American babies born, 1,448 were aborted.
* Among Non-Hispanic black teens, the abortion rate was even greater – 5,956 abortions to 2,265 live births, or 72%. For every 1,000 African-American babies born to teens, 2,630 were aborted.
* The abortion rate among teens as a whole was 63% – 12,139 abortions to 7,207 live births. For every 1,000 babies born among New York City teens 1,684 were aborted.
* Some 16% of all pregnancies in New York City – 14% of abortions – were with teen mothers, 54% of abortions were with mothers in their 20’s; 30% of abortions were with mothers in their 30’s or 40’s; and 14% of abortions were with married mothers.
The foundation noted that the city implemented mandatory sex education curriculum for middle and high school students starting this month which officials claim will reduce the abortion and pregnancy rate. The public will not know what affect, if any, curriculums implemented this month will have had until December 2013, the foundation said.
Pfundstein noted that two-thirds of New Yorkers (64%) – including 57% of women who say they are “pro-choice” — think too many abortions are taking place in New York City every year. More than half of city residents (51%) would support a 24-hour waiting period before abortions can take place, and 63% of city residents support parental consent before anyone under the age of 18 can have an abortion.
The poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates and released by The Chiaroscuro Foundation.
The Chiaroscuro Foundation, along with the Archdiocese of New York and other civic and religious organizations, last year requested that the city separate the abortion and pregnancy data from the overall vital statistics report. The group also asked that the city release data more swiftly. The foundation had its request granted as 2009 statistics were released in December 2010 and 2010 statistics were released in December 2011.
“I commend the city for making the extra effort to itemize abortion and pregnancy information separately as we requested last year,” said Pfundstein. “It is important for concerned New Yorkers to have ready access to information about the alarming abortion rate in the city. We would also like to see a more speedy reporting process. A 12-month turn around time to compile and release the previous year’s data is simply too long for an issue of such great importance. We need information faster so that we can spot trends in our communities – see where things are working and where they aren’t.”
