Overall, the number of abortions performed on women residing in the Diocese of Columbus increased by 439 last year. Only four counties (Union, Coshocton, Madison and Knox) saw a decrease from the number of abortions performed the year before. In all, the total number of abortions performed on women living within the Diocese of Columbus has declined by 262 in the past 10 years.
One of the goals of Greater Columbus Right to Life’s abortion rate project is to look at the number of abortions that are happening within broader context, including total population and birthrate. This helps to identify areas that might have a relatively low (or high) total number of abortions but where shifts suggest the need to identify ways to help the local pro-life community – or learn from their success.
Overall, one of the areas of concern is not only the total number of abortions but also the total number of abortions when compared with live births. Overall, within the Diocese of Columbus, just over 16 of every 100 pregnancies ends in abortion. This figure is largely influenced by Franklin County, which has much higher abortions and births than the rest of the diocese. If Franklin County is removed from the calculations, just over six of every 100 pregnancies would end in abortion. Statewide, about 14% of pregnancies end in abortion. This ranges from less than one percent in Lawrence County to nearly 27% in Cuyahoga County.
Year-to-year figures provide one snapshot of what is happening in a community, but they do not paint an entire picture. This is why Greater Columbus Right to Life is engaged in this project long term and provides it as a resource throughout the state.
|
COUNTY |
2020 ABORTIONS1 |
2021 ABORTIONS1 |
CHANGE |
10-YEAR CHANGE |
2020 ABORTION RATE2 |
2021 ABORTION RATE2 |
GROWTH |
|
Coshocton |
16 |
12 |
-4 |
-8 |
3.57% |
2.75% |
-0.83% |
|
Delaware |
131 |
166 |
35 |
2 |
6.11% |
7.01% |
0.91% |
|
Fairfield |
151 |
152 |
1 |
3 |
8.42% |
8.08% |
-0.34% |
|
Fayette |
20 |
29 |
9 |
3 |
5.59% |
8.33% |
2.75% |
|
Franklin |
3115 |
3399 |
284 |
-130 |
15.11% |
16.37% |
1.26% |
|
Hardin |
14 |
24 |
10 |
2 |
3.47% |
5.93% |
2.45% |
|
Hocking |
13 |
15 |
2 |
-11 |
4.35% |
5.23% |
0.88% |
|
Holmes |
5 |
9 |
4 |
-7 |
0.60% |
1.09% |
0.49% |
|
Jackson |
17 |
20 |
3 |
-3 |
4.26% |
5.17% |
0.91% |
|
Knox |
41 |
39 |
-2 |
-4 |
5.42% |
4.74% |
-0.68% |
|
Licking |
151 |
185 |
34 |
-20 |
7.55% |
8.62% |
1.07% |
|
Madison |
35 |
30 |
-5 |
-5 |
7.48% |
6.59% |
-0.89% |
|
Marion |
58 |
72 |
14 |
3 |
7.83% |
9.23% |
1.40% |
|
Morrow |
9 |
18 |
9 |
-14 |
2.51% |
4.42% |
1.92% |
|
Muskingum |
69 |
72 |
3 |
-9 |
6.37% |
6.84% |
0.48% |
|
Perry |
12 |
23 |
11 |
-18 |
2.80% |
5.78% |
2.98% |
|
Pickaway |
39 |
50 |
11 |
11 |
5.80% |
7.44% |
1.64% |
|
Pike |
11 |
12 |
1 |
-7 |
3.11% |
3.54% |
0.43% |
|
Ross |
44 |
62 |
18 |
5 |
5.58% |
6.93% |
1.35% |
|
Scioto |
33 |
34 |
1 |
-19 |
4.02% |
4.63% |
0.61% |
|
Tuscarawas |
74 |
80 |
6 |
-17 |
6.51% |
6.38% |
-0.12% |
|
Union |
37 |
29 |
-8 |
-16 |
5.05% |
3.95% |
-1.11% |
|
Vinton |
4 |
6 |
2 |
-3 |
3.36% |
3.97% |
0.61% |
|
TOTAL |
6119 |
6559 |
439 |
-262 |
15.39% |
16.17% |
0.78% |
1Abortions as reported by the Ohio Department of Health’s Annual Abortion Statistics Report
2We calculate the abortion rate as a comparison of the number of abortions per (otherwise) viable pregnancy by using birthrate information as reported to the Ohio Department of Health. This does not include miscarriages or stillbirths in Ohio, whether recorded before or after 20 weeks.