The Ohio Department of Health recently released its Induced Abortions in Ohio report for 2023, and the news is unsettling as we learned that more babies are being killed in the womb in the state.
Ohio reported a total of 22,000 induced abortions in 2023. That’s a 19% increase from the previous year.
Nineteen percent!
The abortion rate for Ohio residents now stands at 8.7 per 1,000 women aged 15-44, an increase from 7.8 in 2022. Additionally, the resident abortion ratio has risen to 151 abortions per 1,000 live births, up from 134 in 2022.
Let’s take a closer look at these numbers.
Age
A large percentage of young women facing unexpected pregnancies are under 25; 8.8% of those seeking abortions are under 20, and 28.9% are between 20 and 24.
Many of these young women are navigating life on their own, with 81.7% reporting they were unmarried, divorced, or widowed. The weight of this decision often falls on them alone, which can feel overwhelming.
What should we take from this? It's simple.
These women need more of our support! If you know of a woman who is expecting and yet struggling, reach out. Offer to help in any way you can. Point her to resources, show her kindness, patience, and attention.
Doing so could be impactful in helping to reduce these numbers.
Race
We also see a marked difference in racial demographics: 49.8% of women who obtained abortions identified as Black, compared to 42.2% who were White.
These numbers suggest more can be done to support women in minority communities, where they may not have as many resources and support systems at their fingertips. Ask yourself an important question:
What can YOU do?
Volunteering and donating to pregnancy centers are fantastic ways to help. Reach out and start networking today.
(Want to read an inspiring story about a man who reached out to help a woman of minority status? Bookmark this article for later!)
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Gestational age
When it comes to timing, most abortions are conducted early in pregnancy, with 60.8% occurring before nine weeks and 25.9% between nine and 12 weeks.
But there’s been a nearly 40% increase in later abortions at 19 weeks or more. That’s a huge upsurge. And some women may be falling prey to misinformation.
Here's what you need to know:
When it comes to late-term abortions, there's a common narrative that they are only necessary for dire medical reasons, but the reality paints a different picture.
Let’s take a look at some data that is more far-reaching than just Ohio.
About 6% of reported abortions in the United States occur at or after 15 weeks of pregnancy, which translates to approximately 55,800 abortions annually based on the Guttmacher Institute's 2020 estimate of 930,160 total abortions.
However, abortion data can be incomplete, as not all states report to the CDC, affecting the overall quality of information.
Research shows that many abortions after 15 weeks are ELECTIVE.
Why?
Factors include late pregnancy recognition, decision-making challenges, and scheduling issues.
For example, in Florida (2021), 6% of abortions were in the second trimester, with 88% elective, while in Utah (2019), 10% were in the second trimester, also with 88% elective.
Many women who are considering later abortions often find themselves in complex personal situations. For them, the decision isn’t typically about a medical emergency but rather involves deep personal reasons.
And that’s why support is critical. We need more people to reach out to these vulnerable women. They’re scared. They need us.
Let’s go back to Ohio.
Abortion methods
Nearly half (45.7%) of abortion procedures in Ohio last year used a method called curettage, which involves removing the baby from the uterus. Curettage is done through suction for early abortions, or through dilation and curettage (D&C) in later situations.
For non-surgical abortions, mifepristone was the most used abortion drug, reported in almost 10,000 cases, with others, like Misoprostol, used in just under 5,000 cases.
When it comes to the abortion pill, it’s important to know the potential dangers, as chemical abortion is fast replacing other forms of abortion.
Chemical abortion has a complication rate four times higher than surgical abortion, with up to 20% of women experiencing complications. Additionally, 15% of women may face hemorrhage, 2% may develop an infection and the risk of incomplete abortion and infection rises with gestational age.
Chemical abortion drugs are leading to more emergency room visits. From 2002 to 2015, the rate of ER visits in the U.S. related to chemical abortions increased by over 500% among low-income women in states that fund abortion.
Chemical abortions are more than 50% more likely to result in an ER visit within 30 days, with one abortion-related ER visit occurring for every 20 chemical abortions.
Final thoughts
The latest numbers out of the Buckeye State are sobering, especially given that a judge recently struck down the state’s heartbeat law; citing Issue 1, the terrible gift that keeps on giving.
These statistics highlight real people and real situations, pointing to the need for resources, community support, and understanding of the decisions women face—often alone and at critical moments in their lives.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that abortion comes with risks, including mental health fallout.
While later-term abortions are obviously horrific, abortions at any stage are equally tragic. Life begins at conception and a child in the absolute earliest stages of development is in fact a living human being.
Women entering abortion facilities can be influenced by the availability of pregnancy help and convinced to spare the lives of their children.
Tweet This: Women entering abortion facilities can be influenced by the availability of pregnancy help & convinced to spare the lives of their children.
In the end, this should ignite the pro-life movement to do more to help women - not just in Ohio, but anywhere that women face unplanned pregnancy.
It’s up to us, we who recognize and value the sanctity of human life, to continue to reach out to these women and offer them resources and support.
If you know of any pregnant women who are vulnerable to abortion, assure them they are not alone. Tell them about Heartbeat International’s Option Line, a 24/7 pregnancy help center that offers compassionate support to anyone seeking help.
We must keep fighting the good fight. And just maybe, with lots of hard work and prayer, the next abortion report will give us some better news.
Editor's note: Heartbeat International manages Pregnancy Help News.
