U.S. abortion numbers dropped to a historic low of 926,000 in 2014, the lowest rate since abortion became legal in 1973, according to a new study.
The Guttmacher Institute study also shows the abortion rate has dropped to 14.6 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, which is the lowest rate ever recorded and a decline of 14 percent since 2011.
The study did not conclusively show the reasons behind the drop, but did note that the rate of abortions peaked in the U.S. in 1982 and has been dropping steadily since that time. A Guttmacher Institute report on the study suggested both increased contraception use and the passage of numerous abortion restrictions may have contributed to the decrease.
Another factor in the decline of abortions could be that there were 6 percent fewer clinics offering abortion services across the nation in 2014 than there were in 2011. Ninety percent of U.S. counties did not have a clinic that provided abortions, making it more difficult for women to access abortion services if they wanted to do so, the Guttmacher Institute reported.
“Abortion restrictions and clinic closures mean that patients may need to travel greater distances to access services,” lead study author Rachel Jones said. “The majority of abortion patients — 75 percent — are poor or low income, and two-thirds are already parents. ... While many find ways to access care despite these obstacles, some of the abortion rate decline is likely attributable to women who were prevented from accessing needed services.”
Some experts are worried the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and its free contraception mandate will lead to an uptick in unintended pregnancies, but President-elect Donald Trump has pledged the replacement for Obamacare will provide “insurance for everybody,” The Washington Post reported.