By Dave Andrusko

I can't image a better headline than "[fill in the blank] abortions fall to another all-time low." That's what the Associated Press wrote last week about the state of Ohio. According to the Department of Health, in 2009 there were 28, 771 abortions--down 3% from 2008--and down more than 40% (more than 9,000 fewer abortions) since 2000, when 38,140 unborn babies lost their lives.

Ohio RTL not only highlighted the good news--

"New Government Report Shows Historically Low Abortions in Ohio"--but pointed out that "Despite Poor Economy, Ohio's Abortions Decreased in 2009."

"We are winning the fight against those who push abortion as the first and sometimes only choice for women in crisis," Ohio Right to Life Executive Director Mike Gonidakis said in a press release. "We continue to witness a trend of Ohioans moving towards a firm respect for life. One of the reasons for the continued decline in abortions has been the enactment of new laws which help young women make positive decisions for themselves and their babies.

"Whenever you have even the slightest legislative gain that protects women and defends her baby, it will make a difference," Gonidakis told the Dayton Daily News. He "pointed to a law requiring doctors to offer a woman an ultrasound picture before she undergoes an abortion and another mandating that clinics post signs telling women that no one can force them to have an abortion."

According to Ohio RTL, the report detailed demographic information regarding women obtaining abortions. Those statistics include:

• 18% of women were less than 20 years old;

• 34% were between 20 and 24 years old;

• 83% were unmarried;

• 41% were black;

• 64% of women having abortions had only a high school education or less; and,

• 36% of all abortions were reported in Cuyahoga County, the highest in the state.

"Ohio Right to Life is grateful for the annual decrease in Ohio abortions despite the state's severe economic crisis," Gonidakis said. "We will continue to promote life-affirming options including adoption and will work to increase awareness of the more than 130 pro-life pregnancy centers throughout Ohio."

The 2009 abortion report can be reviewed in its entirety by going to http://www.ohiolife.org/press-releases/2010/10/14/new-government-report-shows-historically-low-abortions-in-oh.html