Number of abortions in South Dakota continues to decline

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) – The South Dakota Department of Health’s annual report on abortions 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. Of the abortions performed last year, 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-WF-07-10-19