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Despite a nationwide decrease of abortions, the number of abortions in Connecticut increased by 422 last year and by 2,000 in 2006, theConnecticut Post reports. A total of 14,112 and 14,534 abortions were performed in 2006 and 2007, respectively, in the state, up from 12,110 in 2005, according to the Post.

Lloyd Mueller, a senior epidemiologist at the state Department of Public Health, said there is "no obvious reason" for the increase, adding that the state's abortion statistics "have been jumping around a lot." Mueller added that the increases in 2006 and 2007 follow decreases in the number of abortions performed in 2002 and 2003.

Susan Yolen, vice president ofPlanned Parenthood of Connecticut, said the increase could be the result of the federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, whichprevented college health clinics and some community clinics from purchasing birth control at discounted rates. In addition, data from the U.S. Census Bureau have shown that the number of women ages 20 to 29 in the state is increasing by 5% annually. Most women who undergo abortions in the state are in that age group, which could be one reason for the increase, Yolen said.

Michael Culhane, executive director of theConnecticut Catholic Conference, said his group is concerned by the increase and plans to issue a report on possible reasons for the increase by September. Culhane said he believes the increase could be the result of declining "family values." Rachel Jones, a senior research assistant at theGuttmacher Institute, said "a lot of factors" could be involved in the increased number of abortions, adding that a more important statistic is that the current rate of 19.4 abortions per every 1,000 U.S. women ages 15 to 44 is the country's lowest rate since 1974 (Mayko, Connecticut Post, 7/24).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women %26 Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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