Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2014.

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 documents the number and characteristics of women undergoing legal induced abortions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions in the United States for 2014.
• To analyze trends in abortion rates and ratios from 2005 to 2014.

Main Methods:

• Data were collected from 49 reporting areas for 2014, with 48 areas providing consistent data from 2005-2014.
• Abortion rates and ratios were calculated using census and natality data.
• Trend analysis evaluated data from 48 consistently reporting areas.

Main Results:

• In 2014, 652,639 abortions were reported, with rates and ratios reaching historic lows.
• Abortion rates and ratios decreased by 21-22% from 2005 to 2014.
• Women in their 20s had the highest abortion rates, while adolescents aged 15-19 showed significant decreases in abortion rates and percentages.

Conclusions:

• The decreases in abortion numbers, rates, and ratios observed from 2010-2013 continued through 2014.
• These findings underscore the importance of effective contraception in reducing unintended pregnancies and abortions.
• Public health initiatives should focus on increasing access to and use of contraception.