State Facts About National Background and Context .

Abortion is a common experience: At current rates, about three in ten • In 2011, 1.1 million American American women will have had an abortion by the time she reaches age women obtained abortions, 45. Moreover, a broad cross section of U.S. women have abortions. 58% producing a rate of 16.9 abortions of women having abortions are in their 20s; 61% have one or more per 1,000 women of reproductive children; 85% are unmarried; 69% are economically disadvantaged; and age. The rate is a decrease from 73% report a religious affiliation. No racial or ethnic group makes up a 2008, when the abortion rate was majority: 36% of women obtaining abortions are white non-Hispanic, 19.4 abortions per 1,000 women 30% are black non-Hispanic, 25% are Hispanic and 9% are of other 15-44. racial backgrounds. Contraceptive use is a key predictor of women's recourse to abortion. • In 2011, 5,820 women obtained The very small group of American women who are at risk of abortions in Missouri, producing a experiencing an unintended pregnancy but are not using contraceptives rate of 5 abortions per 1,000 account for more than half of all abortions. Many of these women did women of reproductive age. Some not think they would get pregnant or had concerns about contraceptive of these women were from other methods. The remainder of abortions occur among the much larger group states, and some Missouri residents of women who were using contraceptives in the month they became had abortions in other states, so pregnant. Many of these women report difficulty using contraceptives this rate may not reflect the consistently. abortion rate of state residents. The rate decreased 21% since 2008, Abortion is one of the safest surgical procedures for women in the when it was 6.3 abortions per . Fewer than 0.5% of women obtaining abortions 1,000 women 15-44. Abortions in experience a complication, and the risk of death associated with abortion Missouri represent 0.5% of all is about one-tenth that associated with childbirth. abortions in the United States.

In the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Where Do Women Obtain woman, in consultation with her physician, has a constitutionally Abortions? protected right to choose abortion in the early stages of pregnancy-that is, before viability. In 1992, the Court upheld the basic right to abortion • In 2011, there were 1,720 abortion providers in the United in v. Casey. However, it also expanded the ability States. This is a slight (4%) of the states to enact all but the most extreme restrictions on women's decrease from 2008, when there access to abortion. The most common restrictions in effect are parental were 1,787 abortion providers. notification or consent requirements for minors, limitations on public Thirty-five percent of these providers were hospitals, 19% funding, and unnecessary and overly burdensome regulations on abortion were abortion (clinics facilities. where more than half of all patient visits were for abortion), 30% were Pregnancies and Their and 18% in abortions; the clinics where fewer than half of all Outcomes remaining 15% ended in visits were for abortion, and 17% miscarriage. were private physicians' offices. • In 2011, there were 6 million Sixty-three percent of all abortions pregnancies to the 63 million • In Missouri, 97,700 of the were provided at abortion clinics, women of reproductive age (15- 1,174,783 women of reproductive 31% at other clinics, 4% at 44) in the United States. Sixty- age became pregnant in 2011. hospitals and 1% at private seven percent of these 78% of these pregnancies resulted physicians' offices. pregnancies resulted in live births in live births and 6% in induced • In 2011, there were 5 abortion Restrictions on Abortion in cases of life endangerment. providers in Missouri; 4 of those were clinics. This represents a • A woman must receive state- • The use of telemedicine for the 17% decline in overall providers directed counseling that includes performance of medication and a a 20% decline in clinics information designed to abortion is prohibited. from 2008, when there were 6 discourage her from having an abortion providers overall, of abortion and then wait 72 hours • The parent of a minor must which 5 were abortion clinics. before the procedure is provided. consent before an abortion is Counseling must be provided in provided. • In 2011, 89% of U.S. counties person and must take place before had no abortion . 38% of the waiting period begins, thereby • Public funding is available for American women lived in these necessitating two separate trips to abortion only in cases of life counties, which meant they the facility. endangerment, rape or incest. would have to travel outside their to obtain an abortion. Of • Abortion is covered in private Definitions and Data Sources women obtaining abortions in insurance policies only in cases of References for information contained in 2008, one-third traveled more life endangerment, unless an this fact sheet are available at than 25 miles. optional rider is purchased at an http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/sfaa/sfaa additional cost. -sources.html • In 2011, 97% of Missouri counties had no abortion clinic. • Health plans that will be offered 74% of Missouri women lived in in the state’s health exchange these counties. under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion when the woman’s life is endangered.

• Abortion is covered in insurance policies for public employees only

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