Increase in abortions recorded in New Zealand since procedure’s decriminalisation
NewsHub 16 November 2020
Family First Comment: “Between the end of March and the start of August, just over 4900 women underwent an abortion within 21 weeks of pregnancy. That’s a rise of about 9%, compared to the data recorded in the same window over the previous three years.”
Late term abortions have also increased.
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The number of abortions performed in New Zealand has increased since the procedure was removed from the Crimes Act in March – but one GP says it’s too soon to determine whether the rise is solely related to its decriminalisation.
Figures obtained by Newshub show that between the end of March and the start of August, just over 4900 women underwent an abortion within 21 weeks of pregnancy. That’s a rise of about nine percent, compared to the data recorded in the same window over the previous three years.
The number of abortions performed after the 21-week mark has stayed relatively consistent. Between March 24 and July 31, 2020, 26 women had a late-term abortion with an estimated duration of pregnancy of 21 weeks or more.
Speaking to Newshub, Royal College of GPs’ medical director, Dr Bryan Betty, said the reasons behind the increase are likely to be varied – noting that New Zealand’s lockdowns in response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic may have played a role.
He says it’s too soon to tell whether the rise in abortions can be directly linked to the procedure being decriminalised.
READ MORE: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/11/increase-in-abortions-recorded-in-new-zealand-since-procedure-s-decriminalisation.html
