October 15, 2010
Contact: Ruth Yorston
614.445.8508
ruth.gcrtl@gmail.com
Franklin County and Columbus MSA Abortion Numbers Increase in 2009
(Columbus, OH) – While abortions statewide continue to decrease, the Franklin County and the eight-county Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area both saw increases in 2009. The Ohio Department of Health’s annual Induced Abortions in Ohio report reveals that 5,581 abortions were performed in Franklin County, which is an increase of 6.87% over 2008 numbers. There were 4,291 abortions performed on residents of the eight-county region, a 2.93% increase over 2008. Of those 4,291 abortions, 5.41% (232) were performed on children 17 years of age and younger, and 45.82% (1,996) were performed on predominantly young, college-aged women, those between the ages of 18 and 24. The other large group receiving abortions are women aged 25 to 39 – the young professional woman: 45.09% (1,935) of abortions performed on Columbus MSA residents in this age group.
State-wide, there was a 3% decrease in abortions with 28,721 abortions performed, down from 29,613 in 2008.
"The increase in abortions in the Greater Columbus region demonstrates the importance of the Pro-Life community continuing to educate and advocate on abortion and other life-related issues”, said Ruth Yorston, Greater Columbus Right to Life Executive Director. “While this increase is disappointing, we must not allow ourselves to become discouraged, but instead to rise up all the more and speak for those whose voices have been silenced by abortion.”
Yorston continues: “Parents do not have to choose a death sentence for their pre-born child – there are numerous crisis pregnancy centers in the region that offer free, confidential support services and whose volunteers and staff are ready to support them throughout their pregnancy and whatever decision they make for their child after birth – either by helping them to make an adoption plan or by helping to provide the physical, emotional and educational support they need to parent their child”
Contact information for the crisis pregnancy centers in the Greater Columbus region can be found at Greater Columbus Right to Life’s Web site, www.gcrtl.org.
Greater Columbus Right to Life is Central Ohio's Pro-Life education and advocacy organization.
Sponsoring such programs as the annual Rally for Life at the Ohio Statehouse, the semi-annual 40 Days for Life Campaign, the Voice for the Voiceless Signature Ad Campaign, the Greater Columbus Pro-Life College Fund, the Youth Oratory Contest and providing resources and educational opportunities to high school and college students as well as adults throughout the central Ohio area through workshops and seminars, hosting educational booths at local fairs and festivals, and providing speakers on life-related issues such as abortion, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia and assisted suicide, Greater Columbus Right to Life promotes a community that protects life from conception until natural death.