Pennsylvania Abortions Rise Sharply in 2008, Blacks and Hispanics Have More

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Feb 2, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Pennsylvania Abortions Rise Sharply in 2008, Blacks and Hispanics Have More

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 2
, 2010

Harrisburg, PA (LifeNews.com) — Abortions in Pennsylvania rose sharply in 2008 as the nation’s economy began to head south. New figures from the Pennsylvania Department of Health reveal the total number of abortions in the state rose by nearly six percent in 2008 spurred on in part by increases in abortions on black and Hispanic women.

Some 38,807 abortions were done in Pennsylvania in 2008, a 5.8 percent increase over the 2007 total of 36,663.

From 2007 to 2008, the number of abortions performed on black women rose by nearly 2,000 while the number of Hispanic abortions increased by more than 700 — and that total increase of 2,700 more abortions eclipsed the overall increase. On the other hand, there were 109 fewer abortions performed on white women in 2008 compared to 2007.

In 2008, 41.8 percent of abortions were performed on African-American women , who comprise just 10 percent of the population of Pennsylvania.

Maria Vitale, the Education Director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, told LifeNews.com today that “Abortion represents a Black genocide which is decimating the African-American community."

“Now, we’re also seeing an increasing number of Hispanics who are experiencing the tragedy of abortion. Minority populations are being particularly hard-hit by the abortion industry,” Vitale added.

The latest abortion statistics show the pressing need to provide support for women facing unexpected pregnancies, Vitale said.

“We know that the total abortion rate would be much higher were it not for Pennsylvania’s Alternatives to Abortion program, which is administered by Real Alternatives,” Vitale told LifeNews.com. “Our program has become a model for the nation, providing everything from diapers to day care referrals to women and their families."

The new report indicates 95 percent of abortions in Pennsylvania take place in seven counties — Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, and Philadelphia.

“Pregnant women in Pennsylvania need to know that there is loving support available,” Vitale said. “At a time of crisis in their lives, they can be assured that there are many people who stand ready to help empower them to make life-affirming choices for themselves and their families.”

The abortion increase in Pennsylvania doesn’t necessarily mean abortions nationwide are on the rise as the state appears to have gone against the grain before. New figures in early 2008 showed abortions rose 5.2 percent in 2006 despite abortions declining to a historic lows.

Still, because of Pennsylvania’s landmark Abortion Control Act, a slate of pro-life laws, abortions have declined 44.2 percent from their 1980 total of 65,777.

The law includes such statues as a parental consent provision, informed consent, and a 24-hour waiting period for abortions and Maria Vitale, the education director for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation credits them with helping to cut Pennsylvania’s abortion rate almost in half.

Related web sites:
Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation – https://www.paprolife.org
Real Alternatives – https://www.RealAlternatives.org

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