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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 1999, there were 5,592
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 = (5,592 / 36,672) X 100 = 15.2
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.
Although only 10.5 percent (590) of reported abortions on Arkansas residents were
performed out of state, the ratios may be much higher than the adjacent counties. 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 12.9 for Whites and 25.0 for
Blacks.
An examination of the state data from 1992 through 1999 indicates a steady decline in the
Arkansas induced abortion ratio. National data also indicates a decline in the U.S. abortion
ratio for this time period.
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