The abortion rate has dropped to an historic low in the US, the latest data reveals.
A new CDC report released on Wednesday confirmed the rate dropped two percent from 2013 to 2014, continuing the steady decline seen over the past few years.
In 2014, there were 12.1 abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age – down from 19.4 in 2008.
The biggest decrease was seen among teenage pregnancies, and now more abortions than ever are performed before 8.5 weeks’ gestation.
While the drop mirrors the closure of abortion clinics nationwide, experts say the figure is likely down to more effective use of contraception and the falling pregnancy rate.
The report released on Wednesday confirmed the steady decline in rates is continuing
The new report by the CDC reveals the majority of abortions (58.9 percent) were performed on women in their 20s.
The new study revealed that the decline in abortions might be due in part to increased use of contraceptives, specifically among women aged 20 to 24, who account for one-third of unintended pregnancies.
A report released in September 2016 found that the sharp drop in teen pregnancy was down to rising rates of contraception used correctly.
Between 2007 and 2012, the number of new mothers aged 15 to 19 years old dropped 5.6 percent.
In that same period, sexual activity among teenagers increased – but there was also a notable climb in use of ‘effective’ contraception methods, like the IUD coil, the Pill and the injection, rather than condoms.
Previous research showed a similar drop in teen pregnancy rates between 1991 and 2007.
A number of reports had attributed this drop to declining sexual activity.
However, the authors insisted that the latest data unequivocally shows contraception is the root cause of today’s lower figures – showing a desire among women to delay motherhood.
The new CDC report also revealed that the infant mortality rate dropped to another all-time low to six infant deaths per 1,000 births.
There was also a drop in preterm births and cesarean deliveries.
The analysis also said that abortion rates among all demographics went down during the six years the researchers looked at.
Researchers Rachel Jones and Jenna Jerman who worked on the new report found that more and more, poor women are getting more abortions. In 2014, these women were responsible for 49 percent of abortions nationwide.
During that same year, women who were aged 20 to 24 received the most abortions – 34 percent of them.
Twenty-eight of every thousand women in this age bracket received an abortion during the last year the researchers analyzed.
Young women between 15 and 19 years old accounted for 12 percent of abortions during this time.
Nevertheless, the abortion rate among young girls that age had declined by a staggering 46 percent since 2008.