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Abortion statistics, England and Wales, 2002

Document type:

Statistical bulletin
Author:

Department of Health
Published date:

30 October 2003
Primary audience:

Professionals
Product number:

ISBN: 1 84182 782 7
Gateway reference:

2003
Pages:

34
Copyright holder:

Crown

This bulletin summarises information from the abortion notification forms returned to the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales in respect of abortions carried out in England and Wales in 2002.

This bulletin summarises information from the abortion notification forms returned to the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales in respect of abortions carried out in England and Wales in 2002. This is an Internet only edition for 2002 final data.

In 2002, for women resident in England and Wales:

the total number of abortions was 175,900, compared with 176,400 in 2001, a fall of 0.5%
the age-standardised abortion rate was 17.0 per 1,000 resident women aged 15-44
the abortion rate was highest, at 30.7 per 1000, for women in the 18-19 age group
the under-16 abortion rate was 3.7, as in 2001
78% of abortions were funded by the NHS, of which just under half took place in the independent sector under NHS contract
87% of abortions were carried out at under 13 weeks gestation; 57% were at under 10 weeks
medical abortions accounted for 14% of the total, compared with 12% in 2001
1,900 abortions (1%) were under ground E, risk that the child would be born handicapped

Non-residents

in 2002 there were 9,450 abortions for non-residents carried out in hospitals and clinics in England and Wales

These National Statistics were prepared by the Government Statistical Service

Enquiries about data in this bulletin or requests for further information should be addressed to:
Lesz Lancucki
Statistics Division 3G
Department of Health
Room 430B, Skipton House
80 London Road
London, SE1 6LH.
Tel: 020 7972 5533
Fax: 020 7972 5662
E-mail: abortion.statistics@doh.gsi.gov.uk

Extracts from this publication may be reproduced provided a reference to the source is given.

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