Number of abortions and teen births fall again

The number of women having abortions fell again last year, marking the 12th successive year in which the abortion rate has decreased.

The Crisis Pregnancy Service annual report revealed that the number of women giving Irish addresses at abortion clinics last year was 3,679 — a 45% decrease compared to the equivalent figure of 6,673 in 2001.

The report also showed yet another fall in the number of teenage crisis pregnancies, with 3,087 births to teenagers in 2001 compared with 1,381 last year.