Introduction to Statistics
Written by: Elizabeth
Oath of God Ministries
2013
The statistical information provided herein is for previous years. Statistics for births, deaths and abortions are never for the current year because it takes considerable time for the various agencies to compile the data.
We do not utilize the (CDC) Centers for Disease Control statistics on abortion since California, Maryland and New Hampshire do not report the number of abortions in their respective states to the federal government. Since California typically has the highest number of abortions than any other state, the CDC’s abortion data is always incomplete or skewed. The more reliable source for these statistics is the Guttmarcher Institute which is a semi-autonomous division of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Despite its pro-choice disposition, we believe Guttmarcher still provides a more accurate reflection of abortion statistics although Planned Parenthood itself performs only 30% of most abortions in the United States. .
We have utilized the information published by the NVSS (National Vital Statistics System) for national statistics on births and deaths. Each year all states are required by law to complete both birth and death certificates as well as other vital information. In turn, the federal law requires a national collection of this data where it can be compiled and subsequently published and then made available to the public. It is the (NCHS) National Center for Health Statistics which works cooperatively with the States to obtain this vital data. The actual compilation of the data is accomplished through the (NVSS) National Vital Statistical System and it is the NVSS which publishes the National Vital Statistics Report on births, deaths, divorces, and marriages.
Unfortunately, reports from the Guttmacher Institute do not always follow the same timeline as the NVSS. This tends to limit our ability to provide perfect comparisons between live births, deaths and abortions in any given year. We were, however, able to compare statistics on live births, deaths and abortions from 2010 to 2011 for all of these topics.
Comparing Births, Deaths, Abortions 2010 – 2011
According to the 2013 National Vital Statistics Report, Volume 62, Number 1, the number of overall births declined 1% from 3,999,386 in 2010 to 3,953,590 in 2011 which equates to 45,796 fewer births in that same time frame. In fact, the 2011 birth rate is the lowest since 1998. However, a steady or continuous birth decline is reason for concern. Birth rate declines are not necessarily a favorable trend for any nation especially those countries experiencing an increase in the 65 years plus elderly population. Tax revenues generated by the working class help to support the special programs and medical costs for an aging and retired population. These tax revenues also help support the poorer families seeking special programs for their children as well.
The number of deaths in the United States for 2011 was 2,513,171 compared to 2,468,435 in 2010 according to the NVSS’s National Vital Statistics Report, October 2012. This showed a difference of 44,736 more deaths in this same timeframe.
Abortions favorably declined from 1,102,700 in 2010 to 1,058,500 in 2011 with a difference of 44,200 fewer abortions during the same timeframe according to Guttmarcher Institute’s report titled, “Abortion Incidences and Service Availability in the United States, 2011”.
These statistics do not include the “morning after pill” because Planned Parenthood doesn’t believe that pregnancy is established until the fertilized egg implants in the lining of a woman’s uterus. The prolife position is that life begins in the womb at the moment of conception or when “with contact between a sperm and an ooctyte and ends with the intermingling of maternal and paternal chromosomes at metaphase of the first mitotic division of the zygote, a unicellular embryo.” (The Developing Human, Clinically Oriented Embryology, Keith L. Moore, T.V.N. Persaud, Mark G. Torchia, P.30) Therefore many women are again misled to believe that they are not committing an abortion.
These statistics exclude not only the “morning after pill or “emergency contraception” which continues to increase in use but also any totals involving human embryonic research where human life is destroyed in countless numbers everyday.
According to Guttmarcher’s report in 2011, 1.06 abortions were performed, down 13% from 1.21 million in 2008. From 1973 through 2011, nearly 53 million legal abortions occurred. Estimations currently estimate year-to-date totals for abortion to be 60 million. The report forecasts that at least half of American women will experience an unintended pregnancy by age 45.
In summary, from 2010 to 2011 there were 44,200 fewer abortions, 45,796 fewer live births and 44,736 more deaths.
Available Statistics for 2012
In 2012 there were 3,952,841 registered births whereas in 2011 there were 3,953,590 births making a small difference of only 749 fewer births in 2012 compared to 2011. The final statistics for 2012 registered deaths is not yet published.
Planned Parenthood’s Progress
According to Planned Parenthood’s 2011-2012 Annual Report, it performed 333,964 abortions in 2011. An estimated 41% of Planned Parenthood’s services were for STI/STD testing and treatment. Contraception services were 32% of all services provided in 2011.
Planned Parenthood also reported 87.4 million in excess revenue and more than 1.2 billion in net assets. During this same time period, Planned Parenthood reported receiving $542 million in taxpayer funding. This funding comprised different government grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursements. Taxpayer funding consisted of 45% of Planned Parenthood’s annual revenue.
Teens Postponing Sex
In a CDC study titled, “Sexual Experience and Contraceptive Use Among Female Teens — United States, 1995, 2002, and 2006–2010”, 61.4% of females surveyed in 1994, age 15-17 years, had never had sex. In 2002, those who had never had sex increased to 69.7% and in 2006-2010 the percentage rose again to 72.9%. There were increases for females 18-19 years as well. In 1995, 28.9% of females had never had sex. In 2002, those who had never had sex increased to 29.4% and in 2006-2010 the percentage rose again to 36.5%. These are encouraging statistics.
Most experts involved with interpreting these statistics believe that sex education in the public schools has been able to reach students to better understand the common wisdom in postponing sex. Abstinence is being taught for many reasons but with a heavy emphasis on avoiding STDs. High school and college students may also be postponing sex to complete their education as well as begin a new career. Teenagers are learning to avoid the burdens and expenses of an unexpected pregnancy. Younger students are realizing that they are not emotionally ready for a sexual relationship.
These positive statistics, however, are based on “common wisdom” and less on biblical precepts of sexual sobriety. The concern for the practicing Christian parent is that these young teenagers will eventually have sex outside of marriage or even co-habitate once they believe they’re mature enough to handle premarital sex. The use of contraceptives among the sexually active across all age groups has risen sharply. Therefore the underlying problem resulting in an unintended pregnancy leading to abortion has always been premarital sex.
More Effective Contraception
In the same CDC study those who were sexually active used more effective contraception. Effective contraception has helped to reduce the number of abortions in America.
According to the study, during 2006-2010, “among female teens who had sex during the interview month 59.8% used a highly effective contraceptive method during the interview month (12.0% used a highly effective method with a condom and 47.8% used a highly effective method without a condom), 16.3% used a moderately effective method (i.e., condoms alone), 6.1% used a less effective method, and 17.9% did not use any contraception.”
About 60 percent of sexually experienced teens said they were currently using hormonal birth control such as the Pill, the intrauterine device (IUD) or injections, an increase from 47 percent in 1995.
An estimated 5.8 million women in only four years or 1,450,000 million per year used the “morning after pill” to terminate a very early pregnancy. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood, (NIH) National Institutes of Health, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists promote that pregnancy begins when the fertilized egg implants in the lining of a woman’s uterus. In the eyes of biblical doctrine this is considered abortion.
It is suspected that economics may also be a consideration for the decline where women have decided to postpone pregnancy due to expected costs involved in planning for a new baby. Education and career plans also may cause a woman to use effective contraception.
The decline in the birth rate possibly due to effective contraceptives is of grave concern both from a tax revenue and moral standpoint. Recent data from Gallup’s 2013 Values and Beliefs poll, conducted May 2-7. Gallup showed in significant increase in the acceptance of premarital sex with 72% acceptance with ages between 18-34 years, 63% with 34-54 years and 56% with 55 years and older. According to the poll, acceptance rose across all age groups from previous years.
Clearly the church in America needs to speak-up without hindrance on these critical issues.