Abortion surveillance--United States, 1991.
OBJECTIVE
From 1980 through 1991, the number of legal induced abortions reported to CDC remained stable, varying each year by < or = 5%.


METHODS
This report summarizes and reviews information reported to CDC regarding legal induced abortions obtained in the United States during 1991.


METHODS
For each year since 1969, CDC has compiled abortion data received from 52 reporting areas: 50 states, the District of Columbia, and New York City.


RESULTS
In 1991, 1,388,937 abortions were reported--a 2.8% decrease from 1990. The abortion ratio was 339 legal induced abortions per 1,000 live births, and the abortion rate was 24 per 1,000 women 15-44 years of age. Women who were undergoing an abortion were more likely to be young, white, and unmarried; most had had no previous live births and had been obtaining an abortion for the first time. More than half (52%) of all abortions were performed at or before the 8th week of gestation, and 88% were before the 13th week. Younger women (i.e., women < 19 years of age) were more likely to obtain abortions later in pregnancy than were older women.


CONCLUSIONS
Since 1980, the number and rate of abortions have remained relatively stable, with only small year-to-year fluctuations of < or = 5%. However, since 1987, the abortion-to-live-birth ratio has declined; in 1991, the abortion ratio was the lowest recorded since 1977. An increasing rate of childbearing may partially account for this decline.


CONCLUSIONS
An accurate assessment of the number and characteristics of women who obtain abortions in the United States is necessary both to monitor efforts to prevent unintended pregnancy and to identify and reduce preventable causes of morbidity and mortality associated with abortions.
Koonin
L M
LM
Smith
J C
JC
Ramick
M
M
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology