Thursday, August 29, 1996

Texas abortion total drops By STEVE RAY and ANNA M. TINSLEY
Harte-Hanks Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - Texas abortions dropped by more than 2,000 last year but still topped 87,000 - including 391 abortions performed on girls under age 15.

The abortion figures, released for the first time Wednesday by the Bureau of Vital Statistics, show only two counties - both in West Texas - where no residents received abortions in the state.

The numbers, which have yet to be published by the Bureau of Vital Statistics, were given to Harte-Hanks Newspapers because of earlier requests for the data.

Overall, both abortion and anti-abortion advocates agree the numbers are good news for Texans.

"People finally are educating themselves about health care options and taking more precautions to prevent unintended pregnancies," said Pauline Cashion, executive director of the Texas Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League.

In 1994, 89,365 abortions were performed in Texas; in 1995, 87,501 were performed.

Of those, 190 women listed Taylor County as their home - five fewer abortions than reported for the county in 1994. The largest number of abortions - 62 - was performed on women between 20 and 24 years old, a pattern seen across the state.

Harris County residents led the state in the number of abortions with 22,062 - more than one fourth of the abortions in Texas. Only Concho and Kent counties had no abortions performed on its residents.

Cashion said only 17-19 Texas counties have doctors who perform abortions.

"Ninety-three percent of the counties don't even have access to the services," she said. "Doctors are becoming more scared at being able to provide this because of a lot of the harassment and intimidation that providers have been the brunt of."

The number of women who received first-time abortions in Texas also dropped, after holding at 62 percent for both 1994 and 1995.

Texans United for Life President Bill Price said the drop in abortions could be because of centers helping women through crisis pregnancies. But he said the drop also could be attributed to people becoming more careful about their sexual behavior because of sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.

Price said crisis pregnancy centers in Texas - now more than 150 - gradually are increasing in number. Those centers work to help women who don't have enough money or a job or baby clothes find solutions so they can keep their babies, Price said.

"They advertise their services and offer women who have a crisis pregnancy a pro-life alternative," he said. "They try to find an answer to every possible reason that a woman is naming in terms of getting an abortion.

"You can drive through Corpus Christi; you can drive through Dallas; and on the lawns of many Catholic churches you'll see a sign that says if you have a crisis pregnancy and need help, call this number and we'll help you."

Earlier this year, pro-life groups nationwide presented a nine-point legislative proposal meant to cut down on those abortions.

The goal of the "Contract with American Women" is to reduce abortion malpractice and make it easier for women to sue for abortion-related injuries.

"I think we'll see legislation introduced in the next session of the Legislature that will provide real protection for women who have decided to seek abortion," Price said. "There are a number of things we are going to pursue, including making sure clinics are required to provide a minimum amount of liability insurance."

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the Supreme Court's historic decision to legalize abortion.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Jan. 23, 1973, in the case of a Texas woman that there is a constitutional right to abortion. Through Roe vs. Wade, abortion was legalized nationwide.

"Overall, pro-choice Americans have always known that abortion needs to be available to women as an alternative," Cashion said. "You clearly cannot make abortion illegal."

Last year, Norma McCorvey, the Jane Roe of Roe vs. Wade, dealt a blow to abortion groups nationwide when she announced that she now opposes abortion. McCorvey now volunteers for Operation Rescue, an anti-abortion group.