Paul, yes, the best way to reduce abortion is to prevent unplanned pregnancies. However, the supposition that comprehensive sex education and access to contraceptives is the answer does not bear up under scrutiny.
Let’s look at a comparison between two US states – California and Texas… California has very “liberal, progressive” policies towards reproductive healthcare. Texas takes a more conservative approach. California’s abortion rate was 16.4 in 2017. Texas is 9.4 in 2017 according to the most recent year for which data is available from the Guttmacher Institute’s national survey of abortion-providing facilities.
Please consider these facts about Planned Parenthood. The number of non-abortion services provided at Planned Parenthood clinics decreased in nearly every major category during the 2017–18 fiscal year. Planned Parenthood’s provision of contraception decreased by 80,000, cancer screenings by 45,000, and other “women’s health services” such as well-woman exams and prenatal services decreased by 13,000. The only category of services that significantly increased was abortion procedures and tests/treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. This information is from Planned Parenthood’s own annual report. https://www.plannedparenthood.org/…/annualreport18.pdf.
Again, please note Planned Parenthood’s business plan is to increase its share of abortions. It is actively decreasing other services. Paul, again you are correct that personal responsibility prior to pregnancy is the key.
Amy, yes, the best way to reduce abortion is to prevent unplanned pregnancies. However, the supposition that comprehensive sex education and access to contraceptives is the answer does not bear up under scrutiny. Let’s look at a comparison between two US states – California and Texas. California has very liberal policies towards reproductive healthcare including a robust sex ed program. Texas takes a more conservative approach. According to the Guttmacher Institute’s national survey of abortion -providing facilities California’s abortion rate was 19.2 in 2020. Texas’s was 9.5. These rates are prior to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. California’s comprehensive sex ed and liberal dissemination of contraceptives did not result in a lower abortion rate. It was just the opposite. So, the fundamental factor in reducing abortion appears to be the recognition of the value of each human life and the commitment to protect each life. Regarding education, please read the abstract of Steve Jacobs’ 2019 survey regarding when life begins – biologically. Steve Jacobs emailed surveys to professors in the biology departments of over 1,000 institutions throughout the world. The results showed that the vast majority of biologists believe that life begins at conception. Jacobs wrote, “I found that 5,337 biologists (96%) affirmed that a human’s life begins at fertilization…”. Here is the link to the abstract from the National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36629778/
Brian,…The important statistic to look at in comparing California’s results to Texas’ results is not the reduction in the rate of abortion but rather the actual abortion rates. California’s policies fail miserably in lowering abortion. In 2017, the time frame that you referenced, California had an abortion rate of 16.4 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. The United States’ abortion rate was 13.5. So, California’s policies resulted in a significantly above average rate. In comparison, Texas had an abortion rate of 9.4. Texas’ policies were and remain far more successful in reducing abortions.