New York continues to lead the nation as the most dangerous place for women and their preborn children. Recently released data from the New York City Department of Health shows that 83,750 abortions were performed in New York City in 2010 – ending 40% of all pregnancies in the city.
The Bronx had the highest rate, with a shocking 48% of its pregnancies ending in abortion – 19,447 abortions, but only 21,258 live births. An incredible 59.2% of non-Hispanic black children were aborted; just 26,635 of these babies were allowed to survive, while 38,574 were killed. The abortion rate was 63% for teen pregnancies, with 12,139 of their babies aborted and only 7,207 living to birth.
While the overall New York abortion rate of 40% has gone down from 41% in 2009, the difference is still far too small. According to LifeNews, Greg Pfundstein of the Chiaroscuro Foundation, a pro-life nonprofit, stated, “We are glad that fewer abortions were performed in 2010, following a national trend over the past couple of decades, but obviously we would like to see much more significant progress moving forward. In parts of the city more than half of all pregnancies end in abortion – this is very, very disturbing.”
Last year, the Chiaroscuro Foundation played a pivotal role in getting the city itemize its abortion and pregnancy data separately, and release the data more swiftly, a request which the city granted this year. The foundation also released a citywide poll conducted by McLaughlin & Associates which revealed that 64% of New Yorkers – two-thirds – think that too many babies are being aborted in the city every year. 51% would support a mandatory 24-hour waiting period before an abortion, and 63% support parental consent before a child under 18 can have an abortion.
New York officials claim that the city’s new mandatory explicit sex education curriculum for middle and high school students will reduce the rates of pregnancies and abortions. Next year’s report will show us what impact, if any, these curriculums truly have on the city’s tragically abysmal rate of abortion.
