Abortion Services:

A directory service comprised of websites of over 400 providers of abortion services and other reproductive healthcare, Abortion Clinics OnLine (ACOL) claims to be "The world's first and largest online source for abortion clinic websites since 1995." Ann Rose is the creator of Abortion Clinics OnLine and she claims to have proudly worked with abortion and family planning clinics since 1976. Ms. Rose encourages those with questions to email her at info@gynpages.com or call 770-350-6161.

Availability

A woman's ability to obtain an abortion is affected both by the availability of a provider and by access related factors such as cost, convenience, gestational limits and the provision of early medical abortion services. Some abortion providers offer services before five weeks from the last menstrual period (37%) or after 20 weeks (24% or fewer), but the proportions have increased since 1993. Providers estimate that one-quarter of women having abortions in non-hospital facilities travel 50 miles or more for services, and that 7% are initially unsure of their abortion decision. The majority of providers (59%) say that these clients usually receive abortions during a single visit. Early medical abortions are becoming increasingly available, but are more expensive than surgical abortions.

The Association of Reproductive Health Professionals lists several factors that hinder a woman's access to abortion services. They are:

• Low income and/or no health insurance or Medicaid coverage to cover abortion services
• Cost
• Provider Shortage/Distance from a provider
• Gestation limits set by the provider, the clinic, and/or the law
• Harassment of women and providers
• Violence and Intimidation
• Legislation and government regulation
• Limited availability of medical training in abortion

The International Planned Parenthood Federation claims that, "Each year, an estimated 500,000 women die of pregnancy-related causes, and almost all maternal mortality occurs in developing countries, representing one of the widest, and most unjust, health gaps between developed and developing nations." And that, "Of the 500,000 annual maternal deaths, complications from unsafe abortion account for approximately 70,000, or 13 per cent, of all deaths... Similarly, it is estimated that accessible and effective family planning and contraceptive services may avert up to 35 per cent of maternal deaths." (Emphasis our own.)

And yet, in their own words, the International Planned Parenthood Federation says that, "Safe abortion is one of the priority concerns of our work... We focus on increasing access to safe abortion services for all women who require them, especially poor and young women who are often forced to resort to unqualified practitioners in unhygienic conditions... IPPF is committed to providing – to the fullest extent permitted by national laws – sensitive, non-judgmental, affordable and high quality abortion and abortion-related services." (Emphasis our own.)

The focus of the IPPF is on safe ABORTION, that may save 13% of the 500,000 annual maternal deaths. But why isn't it on ACCESSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE FAMILY PLANNING AND CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES, that in their own words may save up to 35% of maternal deaths?

Why place your primary focus on saving 70,000 lives with abortion instead of 175,000 with family planning and contraceptives. Why not heed the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, when he said that, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?"

This really has to make one wonder about the issues involved in Racism & Abortion and the agendas of those who are so interested in "helping" the underprivileged.