Publicly Funded Family Programs Prevent 800,000 Abortions

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Report: Publicly Funded Family Programs Prevent 800,000 Abortions

NEW YORK -  Publicly funded family planning prevents nearly 2 million unintended pregnancies and more than 800,000 abortions in the United States each year, saving billions of dollars, according to new research intended to counter conservative objections to expanding the program.

The data is in a report being released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive-health think tank whose research is generally respected even by experts and activists who don't share its advocacy of abortion rights.

Report co-author Rachel Benson Gold called the family planning program "smart government at its best," asserting that every dollar spent on it saves taxpayers $4 in costs associated with unintended births to mothers eligible for Medicaid-funded natal care.

Despite such arguments, federal funding for family planning is a divisive issue.

Last month, under withering Republican criticism, Democrats in Congress abandoned an attempt to include an expansion of family planning services for the poor in the economic stimulus bill. One anti-abortion activist, Troy Newman of Operation Rescue, called the short-lived proposal a "shameful population control program that targeted low-income families."

However, Democrats in Congress are not abandoning their overall goal. They plan to push soon for a major funding increase for Title X, the main federal family planning program, as part of broader legislation endorsed by President Obama to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.

The Guttmacher report provides ammunition for those who will advocate the funding increase.

Surveying data from the 2006 fiscal year, the report says the national family planning program prevented 1.94 million unintended pregnancies, including almost 400,000 teen pregnancies. Based on statistical analysis and projections, these pregnancies would have resulted in 860,000 unintended births, 810,000 abortions and 270,000 miscarriages, according to the report.

Without publicly funded family planning, it said, the U.S. abortion rate would be nearly two-thirds higher, and nearly twice as high among poor women.

Other findings:

• More than 9 million women - including nearly 2 million under 20 - received publicly funded contraceptive services in 2006.

• Six in 10 women who use a family planning center consider it their basic source of health care. The services they receive often include pelvic and breast exams, tests for HIV, screenings for reproductive cancers, high blood pressure and diabetes, and referrals to other health providers.

• Public expenditures for family planning in 2006 totaled $1.85 billion, with 71 percent of the funds coming from the joint federal-state Medicaid program. Twenty-seven states have expanded eligibility for family planning for low-income women who otherwise wouldn't qualify for Medicaid.

[Katie911]

I know there is a family planning group here in my town.  They do free pregnancy tests, and hand out condoms to promote safe sex.  If a teen ends up pregnant they help them decide what is best for the baby and then get it done.  The focus on adoption.  I think it is really good considering most the kids in our area have their legs spread most of the time.

[Junebug926]

It think that is great! Young people need a place to go when they can't turn to their parents.

[sweetie00]

I'm all for it!!! Sex isn't going away, but education sure is.......

 

Last month, under withering Republican criticism, Democrats in Congress abandoned an attempt to include an expansion of family planning services for the poor in the economic stimulus bill. One anti-abortion activist, Troy Newman of Operation Rescue, called the short-lived proposal a "shameful population control program that targeted low-income families."

I love how this Republican tries to twist something good into something bad....Shame on him. 

[tgiamt]

I wholeheartedly believe in these kinds of programs. People should have safe non judgemental places to go for contraceptives and exams regardless of income. I've never really realized why places like this and planned parenthood have such a bad rap. Sure they do abortions, but that's not all they do. How many are prevented by their services as well.

[forsythia_18]

[Crackles54]

Since chemical birth control methods are all potentially abortifacient, this celebration of "preventing" unwanted pregnancies is bogus.

Since chemical birth control methods can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and lower immunity to STDs in general, this celebration of birth control is unwarranted.

Since the disintegration of the family has led to an unprecedented level of premarital casual sex among poorly parented teens, the entire premise that birth control is good for society is flawed.

Just because something is popular doesn't make it good. Just because something is common doesn't make it normal, either.

I weep for this country and for all the people whose lives and lifestyles have been  compromised by our sex-saturated, anti-child culture.

[sweetie00]

I'm guessing you are a Duggars fan?  LOL

Quoting Crackles54:

Since chemical birth control methods are all potentially abortifacient, this celebration of "preventing" unwanted pregnancies is bogus.

Since chemical birth control methods can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and lower immunity to STDs in general, this celebration of birth control is unwarranted.

Since the disintegration of the family has led to an unprecedented level of premarital casual sex among poorly parented teens, the entire premise that birth control is good for society is flawed.

Just because something is popular doesn't make it good. Just because something is common doesn't make it normal, either.

I weep for this country and for all the people whose lives and lifestyles have been  compromised by our sex-saturated, anti-child culture.

[forsythia_18]

Quoting Crackles54:

Since chemical birth control methods are all potentially abortifacient, this celebration of "preventing" unwanted pregnancies is bogus.

Since chemical birth control methods can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and lower immunity to STDs in general, this celebration of birth control is unwarranted.

Since the disintegration of the family has led to an unprecedented level of premarital casual sex among poorly parented teens, the entire premise that birth control is good for society is flawed.

Just because something is popular doesn't make it good. Just because something is common doesn't make it normal, either.

I weep for this country and for all the people whose lives and lifestyles have been  compromised by our sex-saturated, anti-child culture.

You can't expect people to practice abstinence.  I am a pregnant teen.  I did not practice abstinence and my mom made me feel awkward about asking for birth control.  Don't get me wrong--I'm extremely happy that I'm having a baby.  But I am a minority when it comes to my age group.  To other girls my age, it's complete devistation.  Programs like this gives girls a way to prevent pregnancy when it's too early/not a good time. 

By the way, I married my boyfriend and he joined the air force.  My son will have a family unit. 

[Crackles54]

I was a pregnant teen, too. Married the father, who was a complete jerk and still is, just so the baby could have a "family."  What a mistake. Of course we divorced. Early.

If my mother had been a good role model and even a decent mother I probably would not have gone out and started looking for sexual misadventure.

We reap what we sow. And "what goes around comes around." 

Mothers, raise your children to have enough self-respect to live smartly and chastely. And set a chaste example for them.  Because you, dear ladies, are all worth it.

Quoting forsythia_18:

 

Quoting Crackles54:

Since chemical birth control methods are all potentially abortifacient, this celebration of "preventing" unwanted pregnancies is bogus.

Since chemical birth control methods can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and lower immunity to STDs in general, this celebration of birth control is unwarranted.

Since the disintegration of the family has led to an unprecedented level of premarital casual sex among poorly parented teens, the entire premise that birth control is good for society is flawed.

Just because something is popular doesn't make it good. Just because something is common doesn't make it normal, either.

I weep for this country and for all the people whose lives and lifestyles have been  compromised by our sex-saturated, anti-child culture.

You can't expect people to practice abstinence.  I am a pregnant teen.  I did not practice abstinence and my mom made me feel awkward about asking for birth control.  Don't get me wrong--I'm extremely happy that I'm having a baby.  But I am a minority when it comes to my age group.  To other girls my age, it's complete devistation.  Programs like this gives girls a way to prevent pregnancy when it's too early/not a good time. 

By the way, I married my boyfriend and he joined the air force.  My son will have a family unit. 

[forsythia_18]

Ok, people have unrealistic expections.  Without programs like this--we are going to see a LOT of babies being born in teenagers.  No, premarital sex is NOT ideal.  But let's get real people.  It's never going to stop.