Study finds global abortion rate 'virtually unchanged' from 2003 to 2008

"After a period of substantial decline, the global abortion rate has stalled, according to new research from the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization (WHO)" published in the Lancet on Wednesday, a Guttmacher press release reports. "Between 1995 and 2003, the overall number of abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age (15-44 years) dropped from 35 to 29" but, "according to the new study, the global abortion rate in 2008 was virtually unchanged, at 28 per 1,000," the press release states. "This plateau coincides with a slowdown, documented by the United Nations, in contraceptive uptake, which has been especially marked in developing countries," according to the press release. "The researchers also found that nearly half of all abortions worldwide are unsafe, ... almost all unsafe abortions occur in the developing world," and "restrictive abortion laws are not associated with lower rates of abortion," the press release adds (1/18).

The Lancet article is accompanied by an opinion piece and a podcast. Additional coverage of the study is available from ABC News, the Associated Press/USA Today, BBC News, Bloomberg, the Guardian, and Reuters.