Abortion Rates Reach Record High in England and Wales Amid Contraception Barriers
The number of abortions in England and Wales hit a record level in 2022, with experts stating that individuals face growing difficulties in obtaining contraception.
Nearly 30% of pregnancies in the two nations ended in legal abortions that year, up from around 20% a decade earlier, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The proportion of pregnancies leading to abortion has been rising across all age groups since 2015, reaching 29.7% in 2022. This marked an increase from 26.5% in 2021 and 20.8% in 2012. A total of 247,703 pregnancies resulted in abortion in 2022, up 13.1% from 218,923 the previous year.
Separate government figures released last year showed abortions among women living in England and Wales rose by nearly a fifth in a year. Data from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed 251,377 abortions in 2022—the highest since the Abortion Act was introduced nearly 60 years ago—representing a 17% jump from 2021.
Katherine O’Brien of the British Pregnancy Advisory Services (Bpas) said financial pressures and obstacles in obtaining contraception were key factors.
“Many encounter long delays and difficulties securing appointments for contraceptive care,” she said. “At Bpas, we frequently see women seeking abortions after becoming pregnant while waiting for a pill prescription or coil fitting.”
A previous Bpas report found that 49% of women in the UK experienced difficulties accessing contraception, with wait times being a major issue.
O’Brien suggested that rising living costs in 2022 may have contributed to difficult decisions regarding pregnancy.
“Nobody should have to end a wanted pregnancy for financial reasons, and nobody should become pregnant due to barriers in accessing contraception,” she said.
ONS figures showed abortion rates were highest among under-16s, with 61% of pregnancies ending in abortion. The lowest rate was among women aged 30-34, at 20.5%.
Women in their early 30s had the highest number of pregnancies overall, at 249,991. For those over 40, the conception rate was 17.2 per 1,000 women, slightly below 2021’s record of 17.3.
O’Brien urged policymakers to expand access to emergency contraception by allowing it to be sold in more locations.
“While not a complete solution, emergency contraception remains an important option,” she said.
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