South Dakota Abortions Up 20% in 2008, Pregnancy Center Redoubles Effort
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
February 15, 2010
Pierre, SD (LifeNews.com) — New numbers from the South Dakota state health department reveal the number of abortions jumped by 20 percent in 2008. The figures are a cause for concern nationwide because they could be a sign of abortions increasing across the country due to the weak economy during the last three years.
The Associated Press reports on the figures and says they show 848 abortions in South Dakota during 2008, an increase from 707 during 2007. All but 139 for the abortions involved state residents.
The number of abortions on out of state women rose from 98 in 2007, which accounts for 29 percent of the increase in abortions. most women come from Minnesota and Iowa for abortions.
And the overall increase comes after abortions declined 5.5 percent from 2006-2007 and down from the 805 abortions done in 2005.
The health department numbers also show women in their 20s accounted for 57 percent of the abortions while 15 percent were done on women between 30-34 and 11 percent on women above the age of 35.
Another 10 percent were done on women 18-19 and 7 percent on teenagers 17 or younger.
The Alpha Center, the pregnancy center in Sioux Falls, the location of the only abortion center in the state, run by Planned Parenthood, told LifeNews.com today it would redouble its efforts in the face of the rising numbers.
The pregnancy center plans to do more with its Fleet for Little Feet campaign, which involves running a mobile version of the center in an RV to be able to meet the needs of the state’s rural and low-income residents.
"The Alpha Center and FFLF assist women who are facing an unplanned pregnancy by providing free pregnancy testing, abortion information, alternatives to abortion, ultrasounds and support for women who choose to parent," the group said.
The mobile pregnancy center has visited every county in the state of South Dakota in addition to regularly providing services across the street from Planned Parenthood in Sioux City, Iowa.
Dr. Patti Giebink, former abortion practitioner who is now pro-life talked about the campaign.
"The Fleet for Little Feet reaches women and families with a message of hope; showing them there are positive alternatives to abortion. Giving women accurate information is a good thing – and anytime we can do that, we will," she told LifeNews.com.
"The mission of the Alpha Center and the FFLF bus is to empower women to make an educated decision and to give them real options to make a better informed decision. The Fleet bus brings clinical services to all areas of the state that would otherwise not have those options," the pregnancy center added.
Related web sites:
Alpha Center – https://www.alphacenter.org
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