We have lately been treated to some pretty horrifying statistics, drawn apparently from statisticians whose intent was to horrify, on the subject of abortion. Here is a little table I cam across while looking for something else in Andrews and McMeel, The Universal Almanac 1990, page 220.
Mortality Rates From Legal Abortion and Childbirth, expressed as maternal deaths per 100,000 abortions and per 100,000 live births, according to the Center for Disease Control; Alan Guttmacher Institute. Year Abortions Births ================================================ 1970 19.0 16.0 1971 11.0 14.9 1972 4.1 15.2 1973 3.4 12.5 1974 2.9 12.4 1975 2.8 10.3 1976 0.9 10.2 1977 1.3 9.8 1978 0.6 9.7 1979 1.2 8.0 1980 0.6 7.5 1981 0.4 7.2 1982 0.8 7.9 1983 0.7 8.0It would appear, then, that contrary to what we have been told, the last year in which it was more dangerous for the mother to have an abortion than a little bundle of joy was 1970--- three years before Roe vs Wade; more recently she improves her chances about tenfold of dying if she chooses to carry her pregnancy to term.
But millions will go on giving birth, despite the odds. Men will deceive and women will listen to them--- the species is in no great danger of perishing.
Go Back
to Shy David's Feminism Page.