South Dakota reports a major decline in the number of abortions performed in the state.
The Department of Health’s annual report shows a 23% decline in the procedures in 2018 compared to the previous year, which is the sharpest one-year decline in a decade.
The report shows 382 induced abortions were performed in the state in 2018, compared to 497 in 2017.
Nearly 78% involved South Dakota residents, and 29% – or 112 procedures – involved women ages 20 to 24.
Nearly 11%, or 41 abortions, were given to women 35 and older.
Ten abortions involved girls 17 and younger.
The decline last year follows a downward trend for abortions in South Dakota in the last decade.
The report says there’s a 55% decrease in the number of procedures from 2008 to 2018.
AP
