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Induced Abortion Ratio
An induced abortion is an intentional termination of pregnancy with the
intention other than to produce a live born infant or to remove a dead fetus.
In 2001, there were 5,674 such procedures were reported for Arkansas
residents.
An Induced Abortion Ratio is calculated by dividing the number of induced
abortions by the number of live births. The Induced Abortion Ratio = (5,674 /
36,982) X 100 = 15.3 induced abortions per 100 live births. The comparable
U.S. figure in 1994 was 24.1, and 22.9 for both 1995 and 1996. It should be
noted that the latest induced abortion ratio available for the U.S. is from
calendar year 1996.
In 1999, only 10.5 percent (590) of the number of reported abortions on
Arkansas residents were performed out of state, whereas in 2000 it was 22.2
(1296). The ratios may be much higher in the border counties. Completeness
of data received from other states varies. Many states did not provide
county residence data. Therefore, analysis of induced abortion rations by
county and Public Health Regions is severely limited. For example, the
induced abortions performed in many of these states are counted only in the
state total and not included in the totals for the counties and Public Health
Regions. The reader should, therefore, exercise extreme caution when
interpreting the data for the counties and areas near surrounding states such
as the Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas borders.
As with the other indicators, there are differences by race for induced
abortions. The average induced abortion ratio for the five-year period was
9.5 for Whites and 19.3 for Blacks.
An examination of the state data from 1992 through 1999 indicates a steady
decline in the Arkansas induced abortion ratio. There is a slight rise in
2000.
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