Michigan

More women getting abortions in Michigan in recent years, while rates decline in Indiana

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan is among just two states with increases in abortions, partly due to women coming from Ohio, where several abortion clinics recently closed.

Abortions rose by 18.5 percent in Michigan between 2010 and 2014. Louisiana is the other state where abortions increased, according to an Associated Press tally of 45 states compiling data.

Lori Carpentier of Planned Parenthood Mid and South Michigan argues one factor in Michigan’s increase is inadequate public funding for family planning.

Genevieve Marnon of Right to Life of Michigan says the increase resulted partly from new regulations prompting several clinics to close. She says some had failed to report many abortions and women are going to clinics with more scrupulous reporting practices.

Both sides agree one factor in Michigan’s upsurge is an influx of Ohio women.

Meanwhile, the number of abortions performed in Indiana has fallen nearly 20 percent in recent years, a rate steeper than what’s been seen nationally.

State Department of Health figures show the decline occurred from 2010 through 2013, when slightly more than 8,000 abortions were reported. A survey by The Associated Press found a national decrease of about 12 percent during the same period.

Indiana Right to Life president Mike Fichter attributes some of the state’s decline to new laws requiring that pregnant women be given an opportunity to view an ultrasound image and hear the fetal heartbeat before an abortion.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana president Betty Cockrum says 23 Indiana teenagers on average become pregnant each day and that not enough is being done to provide sex education programs.

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