There were 4,058 abortions performed in Iowa in 2020, a trend that’s increased over the last three years.
In 2018, there were 2,849 abortions, followed by 3,566 abortions in 2019, according to state data.
The data came from the Iowa Department of Public Health and was released to legislative staff. State Sen. Janet Petersen shared it with the Des Moines Register.
Before 2018, abortions in Iowa were decreasing.
[inline-ad id=”0″]
The increase follows the change in the state’s family planning services. In 2017, Gov. Kim Reynolds and legislative Republicans had Iowa withdraw from a federally funded family planning service to a state-run version called the Family Planning Program. The move was intended to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving funding for their family planning services.
That led to the closure of facilities around the state because of lost money. Data shows another result of that change is an 85 percent decline in people using state family planning services.
Most abortion supporters argue the Family Planning Program—and its lack of use—is the reason for abortions increasing.
“The uptick in abortions after years of decreased rates is likely because fewer Iowans have access to birth control and sex education today than a few years ago,” said Jamie Burch Elliott in a Planned Parenthood press release.
Elliot serves as the Iowa Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood North Central States.
“Family planning programs have dwindled, and been proven to be reaching fewer people,” she said. “Health centers offering affordable reproductive health care have been forced to close, limiting access to affordable birth control and contraception.”
[inline-ad id=”1″]
Abortion opponents argue it’s too easy to get abortions in Iowa since the Supreme Court in 2018 found a fundamental right to abortion in the Iowa Constitution. That was the argument used by Maggie DeWitte, executive director of the group Iowans for Life. She told the Register that abortion opponents’ hands are tied by that finding.
Six of the nine Planned Parenthood clinics in Iowa offer abortion services while the other three—in Cedar Rapids, Urbandale and one of the two Des Moines clinics—offer referrals. All nine clinics offer additional health-care services. The Emma Goldman clinic in Iowa City also offers abortion services.
For years, Iowa has tried various bills to limit abortions, from waiting periods to bans at specific times, but those efforts have been blocked by Iowa courts.
This year, the Iowa Legislature passed the first step to adding an amendment to the constitution declaring that there’s no fundamental right to abortion in the state. If the amendment goes into effect, bans on abortion would likely follow.
by Nikoel Hytrek
07/21/21
[inline-ad id=”5″]
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Iowans and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at Iowa Starting Line has always been to empower people across the state with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Iowan families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
Iowa Republicans make outlawing gay marriage key 2024 campaign priority
Iowa Republicans have made outlawing gay marriage a key goal in their 2024 party platform. During the Iowa GOP’s 2024 state convention on Saturday,...
Department of Justice says Iowa immigration law violates US Constitution
If Iowa doesn’t suspend the enforcement of its new immigration law by May 7, the state could face a federal lawsuit, according to the Des Moines...
Rushing: Iowa State president said the quiet part out loud
I want to thank Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen for doing us all a favor by finally saying the quiet part out loud: all the...
Iowa sets aside almost $180 million for year two of voucher program
Iowa has committed nearly $180 million in taxpayer funds to support private school tuition in the 2024-25 school year, which is almost $50 million...
Kalbach: Immediate action needed on corporate ag pollution
Iowa agriculture has undergone substantial changes over the past 40 years. We see it all around us. Rather than crops and livestock being raised on...
VIDEO: Jochum calls Gov. Reynolds’ summer meal program a ‘hunger game’
Iowa Gov. Reynolds announced a competitive $900,000 grant program to feed Iowa children over the summer, months after she declined $29 million in...
