State Facts About Abortion: Definitions and Data Sources
National Background and Context
Jones RK, Darroch JE and Henshaw SK, Patterns in the socioeconomic characteristics of women obtaining abortions in 2000-2001, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2002, 34(5):226-235.
Jones RK, Darroch JE and Henshaw SK, Contraceptive use among U.S. women having abortions in 2000-2001, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2002, 34(6):294-303.
Gold RB, Abortion and Women¹s Health: A Turning Point for America?, New York: The Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), 1990.
AGI, Facts in Brief: Induced Abortion, 2003.
Pregnancies and their Outcomes
Number of pregnancies, births and abortions, 1996: Pregnancies include number of births (National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Report of final natality statistics, 1996, Monthly Vital Statistics Report, 1998, Vol. 46, No. 11, Suppl.), number of abortions among residents (unpublished data from 1995-1996 abortion provider survey, AGI: New York, 1997) and number of miscarriages (estimated as 20% of births plus 10% of abortions).
Number of women aged 15-44, 1996: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Estimates of the population of the U.S., regions, divisions, and states, by 5-year age-groups and sex: Annual time series, July 1, 1990 to July 1, 1996, ST-96-11, Dec. 18, 1997.
Number of abortions and abortion rate, 1996 and 2000: Finer LB and Henshaw SH, Abortion incidence and services in the United States in 2000, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2003, 35(1):6-15.
Where do Women Obtain Abortions:
An abortion provider is a facility where abortions are performed.
An abortion clinic is a clinic where more than half of all patient visits are for abortion.
Number and types of abortion providers; percent of counties with no provider; and distance women travel for abortion, 2000: Finer LB and Henshaw SH, Abortion incidence and services in the United States in 2000, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2003, 35(1):6-15.
A metropolitan area is defined by the Office of Management and Budget as "a core area containing a large population nucleus together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core." Metropolitan areas consist of one county or two or more that are contiguous.
Metropolitan areas without a provider: Unpublished list from 2000-2001 abortion provider survey, AGI: New York, 2003.
Restrictions on Abortion
AGI, State Policies in Brief, January 2003, <www.guttmacher.org/pubs/spib.html>.
Abortion rates, 1990-2000
State rate: 1991-1992: Henshaw SK and Van Vort J, Abortion services in the United States, 1991 and 1992, Family Planning Perspectives, 1994, 26(3):100-106 & 112, Table 2. 1995-1996: Henshaw SK, Abortion incidence and services in the United States, 1995-1996, Family Planning Perspectives, 1998, 30(6):263-270 & 287, Table 2. 1999-2000: Finer LB and Henshaw SK, Abortion incidence and services in the United States in 2000, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2003, 35(1):6-15, Table 2. National rate: Finer LB and Henshaw SK, Abortion incidence and services in the United States in 2000, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2003, 35(1):6-15, Table 2.
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