Decline in abortions due to education

THE EDITOR: The recent 45 percent decline in abortions in Russia had nothing to do with the legalising of murder (“abortion”) in that country, but with increased contraception.

It is therefore illogical and flawed to argue the case for legalising abortion based on activities not connected with the legislated slaughter of innocents. In fact, it was changes in education and attitude in nearby Poland that were responsible for the astonishing decline in abortions from 150,000 per annum in 1960 to 253 in 1998 ... a drop of over 99 percent!! Attitudes, not legal access to the instruments of homicide. Actually, the incredibly sharp decline in abortions started before the 1993 law prohibited most abortions. They dropped steadily from 123,500 in 1987, to 59,500 in 1990, to 11,500 in 1992, 1,200 in 1993 (the year the law was changed), to 559 in 1995 and 253 in 1998.

It was forecast that the decline would lead to a surge in births, more illegal abortions posing as miscarriages, more maternal deaths, and increased infanticide and child murder. Polish social statistics showed no significant change in any of these; there was indeed a marked decline in hospitalisation after miscarriages and maternal deaths declined. Admissions for complications of pregnancy dropped from 178 to 144 per 10,000 women. Dr Pawel Woiciki, President of the Polish Federation of Pro-Life Movements, says the decline began with education of the reality of unborn life and abortions declined long before the 1993 law was enacted prohibiting most abortions. The other factor was the arrival of pro-life politicians publicly articulating a pro-life ethic.

Legislation restricting abortion was enacted in 1993. The law was reversed by the next government in 1996 and then reversed again by the Polish Constitutional Court back to what it was under the 1993 law. Sources: Demographic Situation in Poland, reports 1993 - 1998, Statistic Yearbook 1995 - 1998, GUS, Warsaw, Demographic Yearbook 1995 - 1998. In summary, the “Abortion lesson from Russia” by correspondent Jacquie Burgess is a botched attempt to promote legalised murder for Trinidad and Tobago.

ELDON G WARNER
Maraval