Wisconsin’s 2008 abortions lowest since state started keeping records in 1974

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The number of abortions in Wisconsin last year was the lowest since the state started keeping records 35 years ago.

State health officials said 8,229 babies were aborted, about 40 fewer than in 2007.

Abortions have now declined five years in a row, after more than 10,000 were reported in 2003.

Wisconsin Right to Life director Barbara Lyons says it’s clear that more women are deciding to have their babies.

But she thought abortions might ended up rising last year, because clinics that were shut down for the latter half of 2007 re-opened at the start of ’08 in Milwaukee and Appleton.

Officials say three-fourths of abortions were to women who have never married.

Women age 20-24 accounted for more than one-third of last year’s abortions in the state.

Tags: wisconsin, abortions, decline