Last week the Arkansas Department of Health released its annual abortion reports for the state.
Overall, the reports spell good news for pro-life efforts in Arkansas.
Below is a breakdown of key findings from the reports — and from the state’s past abortion statistics — in a post-Roe Arkansas.
Abortion Effectively Stopped in Arkansas After June 24, 2022
The reports note that with the reversal of Roe v. Wade last June, abortion became prohibited except to save the life of the mother.
The statistics released by the Arkansas Department of Health reveal no abortions to save the mother’s life, and the data signals that abortion effectively ended in Arkansas last June.
That’s good news.
Arkansas’ Informed-Consent Laws Saved 400+ Unborn Children in 2022
Arkansas’ 2022 statistics indicate that more than 400 women chose not to abort their children after receiving information about abortion’s risks, consequences, and alternatives last year.
All told, Arkansas’ informed-consent laws for abortion have saved more than 3,500 unborn children since 2015.
Single Moms Were Most At-Risk for Abortion in Arkansas in 2022
In 2022, between 59% and 67% of all abortions in Arkansas were performed on single mothers. These figures track with data reported in previous years.
Single moms are among those most at-risk for abortion, and it is crucial for pro-lifers in Arkansas to provide assistance to women with unplanned pregnancies.
Teen Abortion Has Plummeted in the Past 30 Years
While Arkansas’ overall abortion numbers have dropped, the decline has been especially pronounced among teenagers.
In 1994 one out of every four abortions performed in Arkansas was on a teenage girl. By 2022 that number had dropped to one out of every ten.
Approximately One in Four Abortions Were Performed on Women From Out of State
In 2022 approximately 27% of abortions in Arkansas were on women from out of state.
Most of these women came from Arkansas’ neighboring states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.
Most Abortions in 2022 Were Dismemberment Abortions
More than three-quarters of all abortions performed in Arkansas last year used vacuum suction or surgical instruments to dismember the unborn child.
In 2017 the Arkansas Legislature passed a measure prohibiting many dismemberment abortion procedures. At the time, Family Council estimated that good law could save 300 – 600 unborn children every single year. However, it was challenged in court, and the state was unable to enforce it prior to the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
In Arkansas, Chemical Abortion Peaked in 2020
Since the legalization of the RU-486 abortion drug regimen more than 20 years ago, chemical abortion has generally increased in Arkansas. However, looking over reports from the Arkansas Department of Health, it appears these drug-induced abortions peaked in the state during 2020.
In 2020 there were 1,725 chemical abortions in Arkansas — the most for any year in Arkansas history.
In 2021 there were 1,190 drug-induced abortions in Arkansas. In 2022 there were 379.
It is unclear what brought about this peak and decline in chemical abortion over the years.
Arkansas’ Abortion Rate Has Dropped 77% Since 1991
From 1991 to 2022 Arkansas’ overall abortion rate dropped a staggering 77%.
Abortion peaked in Arkansas during the 1990s, but it has been in decline ever since.
That’s something to celebrate.
Conclusion
Abortion is prohibited in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother, and the state’s pro-life laws are working as intended.
The Arkansas Department of Health’s annual reports provide valuable insight into the status of abortion in Arkansas.
Pro-lifers — including the members of the Arkansas Legislature — have worked hard for years to protect women and unborn children from abortion in Arkansas. These reports show all that hard work is paying off.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
