This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/6765953.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Abortion numbers increase again | Abortion numbers increase again |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The number of abortions carried out in England and Wales rose by 3.9% to 193,700 in 2006. | The number of abortions carried out in England and Wales rose by 3.9% to 193,700 in 2006. |
| There was also a rise in the under-16 abortion rate, to 3.9 per 1,000 women, and among under-18s to 18.2 per 1,000. | There was also a rise in the under-16 abortion rate, to 3.9 per 1,000 women, and among under-18s to 18.2 per 1,000. |
| Abortion has been steadily increasing since it was legalised 40 years ago - there were 22,000 terminations in 1968. | Abortion has been steadily increasing since it was legalised 40 years ago - there were 22,000 terminations in 1968. |
| The Royal College of Obstetricians said the rise was "disappointing" and showed a failure to deal with the problem of unplanned pregnancies. | The Royal College of Obstetricians said the rise was "disappointing" and showed a failure to deal with the problem of unplanned pregnancies. |
| The abortion rate was highest, at 35 per 1,000, for women aged 19. | The abortion rate was highest, at 35 per 1,000, for women aged 19. |
| A rise in the number of abortions is not the problem in itself - the real problem is the number of woman experiencing unintended pregnancy Ann FurediBritish Pregnancy Advisory Service Abortion: An emotive issue | A rise in the number of abortions is not the problem in itself - the real problem is the number of woman experiencing unintended pregnancy Ann FurediBritish Pregnancy Advisory Service Abortion: An emotive issue |
| Three out of ten terminations were carried out using an "abortion pill" - up from 24% of the total in 2005. | Three out of ten terminations were carried out using an "abortion pill" - up from 24% of the total in 2005. |
| Some 89% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation, with 68% carried out in the first ten weeks of a pregnancy. | Some 89% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation, with 68% carried out in the first ten weeks of a pregnancy. |
| Two thousands abortions - 1% of the total - were carried out on the grounds that the child would be born disabled. | Two thousands abortions - 1% of the total - were carried out on the grounds that the child would be born disabled. |
| Government blamed | |
| The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) said government policy to cut waiting lists had promoted fast-track abortion, and made doctors reluctant to refer women for counselling. | |
| Paul Tully, SPUC general secretary, said: "Without positive support an abortion can seem unavoidable - but may be bitterly regretted later on. | |
| "The government's approach of promoting early abortion is increasing the overall number of abortions. | |
| "Gordon Brown should end the Labour Government's policy of rushing women as quickly as possible through the abortion mill in its frenzy to cut waiting times." | |
| Mr Tully also called for measures to stop teenagers being allowed to have abortions without the knowledge of their parents. | |
| Attitudes changing | Attitudes changing |
| Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which provides contraception and abortion services, said: "Increasingly, women expect to be able to plan their families, and they cannot do this through contraception alone. | Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which provides contraception and abortion services, said: "Increasingly, women expect to be able to plan their families, and they cannot do this through contraception alone. |
| "Contraception sometimes fails and sometimes we fail to use it properly. | "Contraception sometimes fails and sometimes we fail to use it properly. |
| "Women will always need the option of abortion if their usual birth control has let them down." | "Women will always need the option of abortion if their usual birth control has let them down." |
| Ms Furedi said social attitudes to abortion were also changing, with more people understanding that becoming a parent was a significant social resonsibility that not everybody was in a position to accept. | Ms Furedi said social attitudes to abortion were also changing, with more people understanding that becoming a parent was a significant social resonsibility that not everybody was in a position to accept. |
| "A rise in the number of abortions is not the problem in itself - the real problem is the number of woman experiencing unintended pregnancy. | "A rise in the number of abortions is not the problem in itself - the real problem is the number of woman experiencing unintended pregnancy. |
| "For some of these, abortion will be the solution to the very serious problem of being faced with an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy." | "For some of these, abortion will be the solution to the very serious problem of being faced with an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy." |