Statistics published by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services show induced abortions in Michigan declined by 2.8 percent from 2015 to 2016.
A total of 26,395 abortions were reported to the state in 2016, compared to 27,151 in 2015. The abortion ratio also declined 1.8 percent and the abortion rate declined 2.8 percent. The numbers show more women chose life for their unborn children.
Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, “This report brings us both joy and sadness. There are 756 more children alive today because their mothers chose life, yet there are still so many more lives lost.”
Abortions in the state are down 46.2 percent from their high of 49,098 in 1987.
Repeat abortions declined slightly but remain shockingly high. In 2016 48.9 of women having an abortion were having their second abortion or more; 23 percent were having their third abortion or more.
One abortion death was recorded in the state report. It’s likely the one reported death was Cree Erwin, who died following a botched abortion at the Planned Parenthood facility in Kalamazoo. In the past Michigan women who were publicly known to have died from abortions were not included in the state report.
Listing said, “The abortion industry has done a deplorable job reporting health complications to the state. It’s up to citizens and journalists to hold them accountable for dangerous practices.”
The number of Black women having abortions declined in 2016, but not as much as women of other races and ethnicities. Because of those other declines Black women once again have a majority of abortions in Michigan, 50.5 percent of the total.
Listing said, “Our society is failing to address this disparity. We must continue to draw attention to the negative impact abortion has on the Black community.”
Medical abortions using the abortion drug RU-486 continue to increase. Nearly a third of all reported abortions in Michigan are medical abortions.
Listing said, “The abortion pill saves the abortion industry money while leaving women to deal with the aftermath of the abortion in their own homes.”
Abortions paid for by health insurance increased slightly, largely unaffected by our state’s Abortion Insurance Opt-Out Act in 2013. Abortion supporters made many dubious claims in their testimony regarding the law, including claiming it would prevent women from receiving insurance coverage for miscarriage treatment.
Listing said, “The gap between what groups like Planned Parenthood claim will happen and what actually happens when we pass prolife legislation continues to grow.”
