Number of abortions at 25-year low

Teenagers are having fewer abortions than women in their 30s, with better access to contraceptives tipped a reason why.

The number of abortions performed in New Zealand in 2016 was the lowest in more than 25 years, according to Stats NZ.

The abortion rate for women aged 20-24 years fell from a peak of 41 per 1000 women in 2003 to 21 per 1000 in 2016. For women aged 15-19, the rate dropped from 26 per 1000 to nine.

A total of 12,823 induced abortions were performed last year, compared with 13,155 in 2015. Abortion remains illegal under the Crimes Act, though no criminal proceedings have ever been brought due to abortion.

Family Planning chief executive Jackie Edmond said a push to improve access to long-term contraceptives has probably helped to bring down rates.

‘‘More women are using IUDs [intrauterine devices] and implants and they have a very small failure rate.’’

The daily contraceptive pill and condoms had proven to be effective, but could fail through human error, such as when people forgot to take the pill, Edmond said.

In 2010, Pharmac began subsidising the Jadelle implant, a rod inserted in the arm, which can provide birth control for up to five years. It ran out in two months, after 1700 women rushed to get the implant, prompting supplies to be brought in from Finland.

Figures from the government drug-buying agency show that, since 2007, prescriptions for the oral contraceptive, emergency contraceptive and condoms have declined.

Auckland University Associate Professor Katie Fitzpatrick said abortion rates reflected wider cultural shifts. Fitzpatrick, who has done extensive research into sex education, said these might include attitudes towards contraception and the emergency contraceptive pill along with greater access to information online.

‘‘Young people are certainly seeking to be better informed ....

‘‘There is a lot of international evidence that young people are seeking advice, information and discussions about sex and sexuality online. This is neither good nor bad necessarily but it is clearly useful or they wouldn’t be doing it.’’

She said sex education in schools needed to be given proper attention, ‘‘so that complex health issues such as sexuality, mental health, drugs, alcohol etc can be explored in full’’.

‘‘At the moment, health education is given scant time in most schools and it is difficult for teachers to get professional development opportunities. Many teachers feel under-prepared and under-supported in these areas.’’

Family First spokeswoman Marina Young felt the rate would continue to drop as knowledge of prenatal development increased.

‘‘We can see 3D ultrasounds and have smartphone apps that show the progress of baby from conception to birth.’’

She believed a combination of education, delaying sex and behaviour changes was resulting in lower teen pregnancy and abortion rates.