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It is important pregnant mothers who feel they have no other option than to have an abortion know there are people who are ready to listen, to be a friend, and to work through their situation in a caring, confidential manner says Michelle Kaufman.
Kaufman is the Communications Director of Family Life International NZ.
“Abortion can seem like the best option at the time, but for many women that relief doesn’t last and they regret their abortions,” she said.
“We are here to offer real choices that allow women to follow their dreams and allow their pre-born babies to be born.”
Family Life International NZ runs Crisis Pregnancy Centres, and helps women and families throughout New Zealand.
The latest figures on abortion from Statistics NZ which show the general abortion rate is continuing to go down (14.2 abortions per 1000 women).
Family Life International NZ says they are pleased about this.
They welcome the news that there are less abortions among women and girls under the age of 25.
The figures showed that among younger women – aged 20 to 24 years old – a peak of 41 per 1000 women in 2003 dropped to 23 last year.
But women aged 20–24 years still has the highest abortion rate (23 abortions per 1,000 women aged 20–24 years).
While the rate of abortions declined the total number of reported induced abortions in New Zealand have increased slightly since 2014.
There were 13,155 reported induced abortions throughout the country during the year of 2015, amounting to 18 more than in 2014 when there were 13,137.
The lower abortion rate indicates that the size and/or age structure of the population drove the small increase in the number of abortions, rather than a proportion of women having abortions,” Statistics NZ said.
Kaufmam says while the increase is minimal, the statistics have put an end to the downward trend which has been occurring since 2008.
“We must remember that each of those numbers represents a baby, a mother, a family.”
The numbers equate to 36 abortions every single day of the year.
“Imagine that,” says Kaufman, “more than one large classroom of children gone, every single day.”
“That is devastating for families. That is devastating for society. We must do more to help, to support.”
Kaufman also emphasized that Family Life International NZ also wishes to reach out to abortion facility workers, and hospital staff who assist in any way in the abortion process.
“People who work in abortion facilities matter too.”
” We want them to know that we care about their well-being.”
Latest abortion statistics from Statistics NZ
In the year ended December 2015:
- 13,155 abortions were performed in New Zealand, similar to 2014 (13,137).
- The general abortion rate was 14.2 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, down slightly from 14.4 per 1,000 in 2014.
- Women aged 20–24 years had the highest abortion rate (23 abortions per 1,000 women aged 20–24 years).
- Most abortions (63 percent) were a woman’s first abortion.
- 55 percent of abortions were performed before the 10th week of the pregnancy.
- 18 percent of known pregnancies (live births, stillbirths, and abortions) ended in an abortion.
Source
- Supplied
- nzherald.co.nz
- Image: prolife.org.nzg
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News category: New Zealand.
