Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2012

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health Surveillance
• Demography

Background:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has monitored legal induced abortions in the U.S. since 1969.
• Abortion surveillance is crucial for understanding reproductive health trends and informing public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions in the United States for 2012.
• To analyze trends in abortion rates and ratios from 2003 to 2012.

Main Methods:

• Data were collected from 49 reporting areas for 2012, with 47 areas providing consistent data from 2003-2012.
• Abortion rates and ratios were calculated using census and natality data.
• Trends were analyzed by age group, gestational age, and method of abortion.

Main Results:

• A total of 699,202 abortions were reported in 2012, marking a decrease from previous years.
• Abortion rates and ratios reached their lowest levels in 2012 compared to the 2003-2012 period.
• Women in their 20s accounted for the majority of abortions, while abortion rates decreased across most age groups, with an increase among women aged 40 and older.
• The majority of abortions occurred at ≤8 weeks' gestation, with an increase in early medical abortions.

Conclusions:

• Abortion numbers, rates, and ratios in the U.S. continued to decline in 2012, reaching historic lows.
• Identifying at-risk populations and increasing access to effective contraception are key strategies for further reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions.