Characteristics of Induced Abortions Reported in Michigan

A total of 25,970 induced abortions were reported in Michigan in 2008, which was a 5.2 percent increase from the total of 24,683 reported in 2007 but a 47.4 percent decrease since 1987 (the year with the largest number of induced abortions).   (See Number, Ratio and Rate of Reported Induced Abortions Occurring in Michigan, 1980 - 2008.)

Michigan residents received 96.9 percent of the induced abortions that occurred in Michigan in 2008. This proportion is similar to that which was observed in previous years.

In 2008, 52.0 percent of the resident women receiving abortions had no previous induced abortions. In general, from 1985 through 2008, a gradual increase has been observed with the proportion of women reporting two or more induced abortions, going from 14.6 percent in 1985 to 22.6 percent in 2008. The proportion of women who had no previous induced abortion has been generally declining, falling from 59.5 percent in 1985 to 52.0 percent in 2008.   (See Characteristics of Reported Induced Abortions in Michigan, 1985 - 2008.)

The majority of Michigan residents receiving induced abortions (51.7 percent) were under 25 years of age, while 19.0 percent were less than 20 years old. These are much smaller proportions than the 64.6 and 30.6 percent observed, respectively, in 1985.

In 2008, 89.0 percent of the Michigan women who obtained an induced abortion were not married, a 7.4% increase from the 82.4 percent reported in 1985. (See Characteristics of Reported Induced Abortions in Michigan, 1985 - 2008.)

Other than self-referral, which was reported for 81.9 percent of all induced abortions in 2008 (down from 87.5 percent in 2007), the most frequent source of referral for induced abortion services was a family member or a friend (8.9 percent, up from 5.1 percent in 2007) and a physician (5.6 percent, up from 3.5 percent in 2007). (See Number of Reported Induced Abortions by Source of Referral and Age of Woman, 2008.)

Over half (61.0 percent up from 59.5 percent in 2007) of the resident women obtaining induced abortions in 2008 had a previous term pregnancy. Of the women who had a previous term pregnancy, nearly one-half in 2008 had at least two or more term pregnancies.  (See Number of Reported Induced Abortions by the Number of Previous Pregnancies Carried to Term and Marital Status, Michigan Residents, 2008.)

Among all induced abortions reported in 2008 in Michigan (including both residents and non‑residents), most involved pregnancies of 12 weeks or less (87.3 percent) and suction was the most frequent procedure at 84.9 percent.  (See Number of Reported Induced Abortions by Weeks of Gestation and Principal Procedure, Michigan Occurrences, 2008.)

Abortions performed in physicians' private offices represented 78.8 percent of all reported induced abortions in 2008; those performed in freestanding outpatient surgical facilities comprised 20.9 percent, with the remainder occurring in hospitals.  (See Number of Reported Induced Abortions by Weeks of Gestation and Type of Facility, Michigan Occurrences, 2008.)

Most abortion reports indicate no immediate complications. In 2008 immediate complications were reported in 9 cases or less than one of each 1,000 induced abortions performed. (See Number and Percent of Reported Induced Abortions with Any Mention of Immediate Complication by Type of Immediate Complication, Michigan Occurrences, 2008.)

In 2008, self-pay was indicated as the source of payment for most induced abortions (98.1%). (See Number of Reported Induced Abortions by the Source of Payment and Age of Woman, Michigan Residents, 2008.)

In 2008, ultrasound was the most common method reported for confirming the pregnancy (83.0%). (See Number of Reported Induced Abortions by Weeks of Gestation and Method to Confirm Pregnancy, Michigan Occurrences, 2008.)

Information on complications subsequent to an abortion was collected for the first time in 2001. This information is required to be reported on a separate reporting form by any physician who provided care to a woman suffering from a physical complication that was the result of an abortion occurring within seven days of the abortion. Fourteen reports of subsequent complications were submitted in 2008. (See Number of Reported Induced Abortions with Any Mention of Subsequent Complication by Selected Characteristics, Michigan Occurrences, 2008.)

Information on the race of the woman obtaining an induced abortion was collected for the first time in 2003. Of the Michigan residents receiving abortions in 2008, 48.4 percent were white, 45.4 percent were black and 2.1 percent were Asian/Pacific Islander. Less than two percent were American Indian, Multi-Racial or of some other race. (See Number of Reported Induced Abortions by Race of Woman, Michigan Residents, 2008.)

Technical Notes

The state of Michigan has established a mandatory reporting system for induced abortions (MCL 333.2835). According to this law, abortion reports are not allowed to contain any common identifiers that would make it possible to identify, in any manner or under any circumstances, an individual who obtained or seeks to obtain an abortion.  Abortion reports are prepared and submitted to the Department of Community Health by the physician who performs the abortion. The reports are not legal records; they are used only to produce statistical data for health and medical purposes.

The tables in this report are based on induced abortion reports for 2008 that were received by the Department of Community Health on or before January 31, 2009.  Definitions of the terms used are given in the footnotes of the individual tables, where necessary.