36 abortions every day in Scotland

Published on Tuesday 25 May 2010 22:55

THE number of women having abortions in Scotland has fallen for the first time in seven years, new Scottish Government figures have revealed.

A total of 13,005 terminations were carried out in 2009, more than 800 fewer – or 6.2 per cent – than the 2008 figure, and the lowest number since 2005.

The decrease was particularly sharp among the under-20 and 20-24 age groups, while abortions rose among women aged 30 to 34.

Public health minister Shona Robison said: "It is encouraging to see a decrease in the number of abortions carried out in Scotland for the first time in six years.

"Education has a key role to play in reducing unintended pregnancies which is why we work with parents, schools and NHS Scotland to provide additional support and information around relationships and sexual health.

"We have also raised awareness of the contraceptive choices available which suit individual's lifestyles, such as longer-lasting contraception.

"Services for sexual health in Scotland have also increased in number and improved in quality, in all areas of Scotland, over the past few years."

There was a decrease in abortions among women living in the most deprived parts of Scotland, but those areas still have more than twice as many taking place as in the most affluent parts of the country – 3,718 compared with 1,759.

Ross Finnie, Liberal Democrat health spokesman, said: "Even though the number of abortions have decreased in number from last year there is still a clear link between deprivation and abortion rates.

"Young women in our deprived areas are twice as likely to have an abortion as those from more affluent areas.

"Sexual education must focus on young people in our most disadvantaged areas." He added: "Young women should know that abortion is not an alternative to contraception."

There has been a steady increase in abortions since the 1967 act made it legal.

However, it has remained controversial. The first television advert for abortion services was screened on Monday by Marie Stopes International, a charity that carries out 65,000 terminations each year.

It was designed to promote debate, but critics argued it broke advertising rules by "selling abortion" as if it were a consumer product.

The charity was not surprised to see abortion numbers fall in Scotland, having seen them fall for two consecutive years in England and Wales.

Julie Douglas, spokeswoman for Marie Stopes International, said: "The birth rate is up, so it could be that women are having children instead.

"Another reason might be long-acting contraception, such as the implant and coil. The failure rate is low and compliance is high, so that has been much more effective in preventing pregnancies."

Ann Furedi, of British Pregnancy Advisory Service, which has a referral centre in Glasgow, said:

"Scotland has a good record of NHS funding for women who need abortion care, especially at the earliest stages.

Unintended pregnancy and abortion will always be facts of life, because women want to make sure the time is right for them to become a parent."