By Kim Rahn
The number of abortions performed here has steadily fallen since 2008 due to the increasing use of contraceptives and the participation of obstetricians in anti-abortion campaigns, according to a government survey Friday.
Abortions per 1,000 fertile women fell to 15.8 last year from 17.2 in 2009 and 21.9 in 2008 the survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare reported.
“Abortion has been on a downward trend thanks to a combination of factors including easier accessibility and use of contraceptives, broadening anti-abortion campaigns, and an improved social environment for childbirth and childcare,” ministry director Shin Seung-il said.
In comparison, the figure stood at 16.8 for the United Kingdom, 17.6 in France and 18.9 in the United States, according to the ministry. It was 10.3 for Japan, and 7.2 in Germany.
The ministry conducted the research on 4,000 women aged between 15 and 44 from May to June.
By applying the ratio of abortions per 1,000 people to the nation’s total number of fertile women, 10.71 million, the study team estimated 169,000 women had abortions in 2010, 188,000 in 2009 and 241,000 in 2008.
It was also a large drop from 2005’s 342,000, a number estimated from a survey of 201 obstetrics and gynecology clinics at that time.
As to the reason for the drop, the ministry presumes campaigns to raise the birthrate have been effective.
“Also, people’s recognition of planned pregnancy has risen and more and more people use contraceptives. We believe morning-after pills also helped reduce abortions, with pharmaceutical firms selling 603,000 doses of morning-after pills to pharmacies last year, even though there is controversy over the possible abuse of the drug,” Shin said.
He added an intensified crackdown on illegal abortions has also partly forced doctors to avoid performing such operations. Under the law, abortion is restricted except for pregnancy by rape or incest, and cases involving grave health risks, dangerous contagious diseases or serious genetic defects.
Despite the overall fall in abortion rate, the figure among single women increased slightly compared to the previous year, standing at 14.1 per 1,000, up from 12.7 in 2009.
By academic background, abortion among high school or college graduates dropped, but that among incumbent college or graduate students and those who finished graduate school slightly increased.
“Most of the women who had an abortion said they did so because it was an unplanned pregnancy. To prevent this tendency, we’ll strengthen education on sex and contraception for students,” Shin said.
The study, co-conducted with Yonsei University’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, was announced in a public hearing held at the school Friday, where experts in obstetrics and gynecology, anti-abortion groups and women’s groups exchanged opinions.