Following a national trend, abortion numbers in Massachusetts dropped 11 percent as more babies’ lives were saved from abortion.
Newly released data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health shows abortion numbers falling from 20,802 in 2010 to 18,570 in 2015 – an 11 percent drop, the Associated Press reports.
Pro-life leaders said the numbers show that pro-life educational and outreach efforts are making a difference in the lives of moms and babies.
“It absolutely is happening, we’re thrilled, and we absolutely believe our education efforts are making a difference,” Massachusetts Citizens for Life President Anne Fox told the AP. “Our goal is to educate everyone so there isn’t a need to go to the door of [an abortion] clinic.”
State Planned Parenthood leaders credited their own efforts for the drop in abortions. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, told the AP that the drop was due to better birth control and sex education, provided by her abortion chain.
Massachusetts Citizens for Life responded to this claim Monday on Facebook:
Abortions are down in Massachusetts 11 percent since 2010 and by thousands per year over the past two decades. Now, Planned Parenthood wants to take credit for that, but how does that make sense when they perform *two-thirds* of the abortions in Massachusetts? Pro-lifers are connecting more and more with younger people–our education efforts are paying off!– and there are more and more options for women in crisis pregnancy.
More than 70 percent of the abortions in Massachusetts were performed on unmarried women between ages 20 and 34, according to the report. In 2015, 71 percent of abortions were performed in the first eight weeks of pregnancy; and 15 unborn babies were aborted at or after 24 weeks, generally considered the point of viability, the report states.
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Nationwide, abortions are dropping to historic lows.
In January, the Alan Guttmacher Institute reported abortion numbers fell below 1 million in 2013 and 2014, a first since Roe v. Wade.
The pro-abortion research group, considered to have the most comprehensive abortion numbers for the U.S., reported an estimated 926,200 abortions in 2014 and 958,700 in 2013.
Notably, the pro-abortion researchers partially attributed the decline to pro-life efforts. In the past, Guttmacher and other abortion advocacy groups have avoided giving pro-lifers credit for the declines.
Guttmacher researchers argued that improved access to birth control is decreasing the number of unplanned pregnancies and abortions. However, they also admitted in less than flattering terms that pro-lifers are succeeding in saving unborn babies and moms from abortion.
“… the wave of abortion restrictions passed at the state level over the last five years could also have contributed to the decline by making it more difficult for women to access needed services in highly restrictive states,” the report states.
Pro-lifers have been working hard to make abortion unthinkable by providing hope, assistance and information to moms and their babies.
Some of the state laws passed in recent years have helped to ensure that women are fully informed about their unborn baby’s development as well as their options, including material assistance for parents, before having an abortion. Other states cracked down on abortion facilities that were operating in unsafe conditions and putting women’s lives in jeopardy.
Grassroots efforts also have been instrumental in helping to save lives. These included more sidewalk counseling and outreach to moms and babies through organizations like 40 Days for Life, and pregnancy centers’ growing outreach to moms and babies in need.
