30% rise in Westmeath women travelling to UK for abortions

The number of Westmeath women who travelled to England for abortions rose by 30pc.

While the number of Irish women travelling to the UK for abortions fell for the 14th consecutive year, according to new figures released by the Department of Health in the UK, the number of Westmeath women rose significantly.

Overall, 56 women who gave a Westmeath address travelled to Britain last year for an abortion; in 2014 the figure was 43. In 2013, 45 Westmeath women travelled for abortions, down two from 2012. The number of local women who obtained abortions in the UK last year could be higher than the official figure as 231 women did not give any details about their county of origin.

Nationally, 3,451 women travelled to Britain for an abortion in 2015, the lowest figure since 1980 and an almost 50pc decline since the numbers peaked in 2001.

Forty six percent of the women who gave an Irish address were in their 20s, while 37 percent were in their 30s. Nearly half stated their marital status was 'single with partner’, almost 30 percent were 'single no partner’ and almost 20 percent were married or in a civil partnership.

Almost 2,400 of the abortions were carried out in the first nine weeks of the pregnancy, while 112 were carried out after 20 weeks.

The Irish Family Planning Association says the new figures do not reflect the actual number of Irish women having abortions.

IFPA chief executive Niall Behan said: “We cannot be complacent about this decrease. While it is impossible to quantify the extent of their use, abortion pills accessed online have had a significant impact on the decline in the number of women in Ireland seeking abortion services in the UK.”
Cora Sherlock of the Pro Life Campaign said that the reduction in the number of women travelling to England for abortions is about more than the availability of abortion pills.

“The further decline in the number of women travelling for an abortion is a positive development, particularly when you consider the serious adverse psychological effects of abortion for many women that is swept under the carpet far too much in public debate.

“There is very likely a link between women who regret their abortions talking about their negative life-changing experience and the drop in the numbers opting for abortion. Pro-choice campaigners wouldn’t entertain this explanation for a second," she said.