The abortion rate has fallen to historic lows since the advent of Roe vs. Wade, according to a report from the Guttmacher Institute. Predictably, the reason for the decline is the subject of much political debate. Research, however, suggests that the Affordable Care Act played a role.
Declining Abortion Rates
The report found that abortion rates declined in every region of the United States between 2011-2014, with an overall decline of 14 percent. Abortion rates dropped in all but six states, declining by an average of 3-6 percent per year.
In 2013, the abortion rate fell below a million for the first time since the 1970s. This change comes in spite of growing numbers of women of childbearing age. By 2014, the abortion rate was 14.6 per 1,000 women aged 15-44. That’s the lowest rate ever recorded.
Can the Affordable Care Act Take Credit?
The Affordable Care Act greatly expanded access to contraception, requiring almost all plans to cover birth control. Use of the most effective birth control strategies, including hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine devices (IUDs) has increased. The drop in abortions coincides with the implementation of the ACA’s birth control mandate.
Belying the Notion that Restrictive Abortion Policies Reduce Abortion
Anti-abortion advocates argue that restrictive state abortion laws have lowed the abortion rate. There’s no evidence to support this claim. The report shows that abortion rates declined across the country, not just in states with abortion restrictions.
Four of the 10 states with the greatest declines had no new abortion restrictions. Further, the report points out that the unintended pregnancy rate has dropped. If restrictive abortion laws decreased the abortion rate, the birth rate would increase. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the birth rate fell to an all-time low in 2013. Women aren’t deciding to keep unwanted pregnancies; they’re taking more proactive steps to avoid becoming pregnant in the first place.
Outcomes in countries that have banned abortions demonstrate the ineffectiveness of abortion bans. In Ecuador, an abortion ban increased the maternal death rate and increased suicides among women and girls.
‘Pro-Life’ Republicans May Increase Abortion Rate
Republicans are determined to repeal the Affordable Care Act, putting healthcare for millions of women at risk. Importantly, the ACA mandated maternity and pediatric coverage. With these vital services at risk, women who choose to carry their pregnancies to term face financial ruin and health catastrophes. The result could be an increase in the abortion rate.
Research-Supported Ways to Lower the Abortion Rate
Anti-abortion laws might not reduce women’s desire to end unwanted pregnancies. That doesn’t mean reducing the abortion rate is a lost cause. Several studies have linked improved access to birth control to a reduced abortion rate. A 2012 study found that free birth control—as is mandated by the Affordable Care Act—can lower the abortion rate by 62-78 percent.
Paid maternity leave and affordable health care also play a key role in lowering the abortion rate. Many women seeking abortions cite financial and career reasons. Giving birth costs between $30,000-$50,000—a figure that makes giving birth an unrealistic option for the uninsured. Prior to the ACA’s maternity mandate, even insured women might have to pay out of pocket for their births.
Sex education—including accurate information about birth control can also reduce abortions, since accurate sex education encourages the use of birth control.
Republicans oppose all three strategies.