Abortion Rates: Looking Beyond The Numbers
One Number
One number = one life.
One number = one woman who was faced with a life-changing decision.
One number = one too many.
At Life Line Pregnancy Center, we believe that one number represents one choice—an opportunity to choose life. Our goal is to save as many lives as possible by providing education and encouragement to women who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy and providing accurate information about abortion alternatives. It’s important for these women to realize that they are not alone.
In 2013, 19,818 abortions were performed in North Carolina according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. This equates to an abortion rate of 10.1. The abortion rate is determined by comparing the number of abortions per 1,000 live births. New Hanover County has a 12.1 abortion rate, which is higher than the state average. In North Carolina, more than half of the total pregnancies – 68 percent – resulted in live births while 16% ended in induced abortions.
Nationwide trends indicate that the U.S. abortion rate is decreasing, and in 2011, the rate had reached its lowest level since 1973. In North Carolina, the rate has decreased 15 percent since 2008. However, researchers from the Guttmacher Institute believe that one of the reasons for this decrease is that it is coinciding with a general decline in nationwide pregnancy rates.
Beyond The Numbers
What can we do to keep young lives from becoming another statistic?
At times, these numbers seem overwhelming. (This is when we like to remind ourselves of the story of the starfish.) How can we make a difference in the lives of these women, and most importantly, how can we save lives? Following are some of the many ways Life Line Pregnancy Center helps.
- We provide a safe, non-judgmental, educational environment for mothers-to-be to receive information about abortion alternatives in order to help them make a decision.
- We offer information on sexual health, encouraging young women to carefully consider the impact sex can have on their lives, from unplanned pregnancies to sexually transmitted diseases.
- We offer prenatal and parenting classes to give mothers and fathers-to-be the tools needed to care for a newborn.
- We let clients know about the wide range of adoption options that are available, including adoption plans where they can choose how involved they want to be in the life of their child.
There’s Something Else That Can Help Us Stop These Statistics: You.
As a non-profit organization, we depend upon donations and help from volunteers and community members like yourself. Would you like to get involved? Please call us at (910) 392-0001 for more information, or follow our Facebook page. You can also sign up for our newsletter here.