Study Links Contraception and Abortion Rates in Spain

A 10-year study in Spain measuring
the rates of both contraception
use and abortions recently drew
to a close. The results showed that as
contraceptive rates rose by 60%, the
abortion rate doubled.

STUDY DESIGN: Since 1997, representative
samples of Spanish women of
childbearing potential (15-49 years) have
been surveyed by the Daphne Team every
2 years to gather data of contraceptive
methods used.

RESULTS: During the study period,
1997 to 2007, the overall use of contraceptive
methods increased from 49.1%
to 79.9%. The most commonly used
method was the condom (an increase
from 21% to 38.8%), followed by the
pill (an increase from 14.2% to 20.3%).
Female sterilization and IUDs decreased
slightly and were used by less than 5% of
women in 2007. The elective abortion
rate increased from 5.52 to 11.49 per
1000 women.

CONCLUSIONS: The factors responsible
for the increased rate of elective
abortion need further investigation.
These results directly contradict
the claims made by the Anti-Life establishment,
who allege that promoting
contraception will reduce unwanted
pregnancies, and hence the number of
abortions performed.