Abortions up six per cent

12.00pm

The number of abortions performed rose by 6 per cent in 2002, according to figures released today.

There were 17,400 abortions performed in New Zealand in 2002, 6 per cent more than the 16,400 in 2001, government statistician Brian Pink said in a statement.

That meant the abortion rate (the number of abortions per 1000 women aged 15-44) rose to 20.0.

Last month the Abortion Supervisory Committee (ASC) called for a national strategy to prevent unintended pregnancies, as abortion numbers were on the rise.

Today's statistics showed women aged 20-24 had the highest abortion rate of any age group -- 38.9 abortions per 1000 -- followed by 25-29-year-olds (26.6).

"Over the last decade, abortion rates have increased for all age groups, though by varying amounts," Mr Pink said in a statement.

"Between 2001 and 2002, the abortion rate for teenagers increased by 8 per cent, while that for women aged 20-24 years increased by 5 per cent. The average age of women having an abortion in 2002 was 26.3 years, compared with 26.5 years in 2001."

- NZPA