Liberalized abortion and birth rates changes in Baltimore

W. Oppel and S. Wolf

American Journal of Public Health, 1973, vol. 63, issue 5, 405-408

Abstract: To investigate the effect of liberalized abortion laws, all recorded abortions and births in Baltimore City from July 1, 1970 to December 31, 1970, were compared with births from July 1, 1968 to December 31, 1968. Both black and white in-wedlock observed births were lower than expected 1970 births, but the out-of-wedlock births were higher. Both black and white in-wedlock abortion rates showed similar patterns. Out-of-wedlock abortions, which had been rising steadily for the past few decades continued to rise. The differences observed could not be attributed only to a liberalized abortion policy. There is no record of the number of illegal abortions performed in 1968, and the study did not measure changes in birthrate which might have been attributable to differences in family planning practices caused by adverse publicity about the pill. Although abortions have increased since liberalization of the law, there may still be limited access to abortion.

Date: 1973
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1973:63:5:405-408_3

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