In tough times, abortions on the rise in the Midlands

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10606796

Published Friday April 10, 2009
In tough times, abortions on the rise in the Midlands
BY MICHAEL O'CONNOR
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The pregnant woman walked into a Bellevue abortion clinic last month with her mind made up.

She was single, living with her mother and had recently lost her job. With four children already, she worried she wouldn't be able to afford another. She had an abortion that day.

The woman is one example of why abortion clinics in Nebraska and Iowa say their counts have increased. Clinic officials believe the bad economy is a factor, with women and couples worrying more about affording a child.

"Economic reasons have always been one of the primary reasons why women terminate pregnancies," said Dr. LeRoy Carhart, who runs the Bellevue clinic. "They just figure they can't afford to have a child."



Penny Dickey, an official with Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, agreed that the economy is an influence on the tough decision to have an abortion.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa performed about 3,000 abortions from July 2008 through February 2009 - 15 percent more than the same period in 2007 and 2008, Dickey said. Her organization has four clinics that perform surgical abortions, including those in Des Moines and Sioux City.

Carhart said that during the first two weeks of January, he performed 77 abortions at his Bellevue clinic - 25 more than the same period last year.

Other providers in the country have reported an increase in abortions tied to the recession.

FULL story at link.

[skatterkat]

1. Honestly,

I'm sure the state of the economy is part of that reason. But, a "terrible commentary on our society"? Really, would it be better if all the living children of some of these women were starved instead?

[iverglas]

2. interesting

The quote:

He said it would be a "terrible commentary on our society" if women were having abortions because they thought they couldn't afford a child.

I think there have always been women who have had abortions because they couldn't afford a child.

I mean, how many children should one woman/couple be able to "afford", anyhow? The woman in the story had four children already. For pity's sake, why would it be considered reasonable for anyone in societies like ours to have four children, let alone five?

The big point is that the bloody world can't afford to have women in the US and the rest of the industrialized world having that many children. Maybe this little economic adjustment will make the connections for those who have managed to avoid seeing them even in this millennium.

[kestrel91316]

6. One of the main reason I never had children is because I recognized

that I did not have nearly enough money to raise one in the way I would wish to. If I had gotten pregnant in spite of 31 years on the pill, I would have had an abortion for the very same reason. I know, I'm bad - I would have used abortion as back-up birth control. DUH.

I believe that EVERY child should be a wanted child, and by that I mean REALLY WANTED by the woman carrying it. I did not want the financial burden of a child I couldn't afford.

[Control-Z]

3. A worse commentary on our society

is when so many women can't afford to have children.

'"terrible commentary on our society" if women were having abortions because they thought they couldn't afford a child.'

Even worse, is when women are forced to have children they can't afford, or don't want. And, I'll probably get flamed for this, but I would even extend that sentiment to women who choose to have children knowing they don't have the means, or even the potential, to provide for them. I will, however, always stand up for the right of every woman to make that choice, as selfish as it might seem.

Every baby born should be loved, wanted, and provided for. Period. For most women, it requires a great deal of honesty and compassion to decide on abortion. Even when money is the compelling reason.

[Iris]

4. I would guess one of the most common reasons women have had and have abortions is because they can't

afford a child. I see nothing in this "culture of life" idea that makes any real attempt to change society in a way that would make this less likely. And even if we did, it is still a woman's choice whether or not to have a child.

[caseymoz]

5. I think a barometer how much confidence people have in the future is the rate of abortion.

It should go without saying that women who feel little hope for the future will abort the most, and men feeling the same will encourage abortion.