Box 2 - The Transition to Lower Fertility: Interrelation of Births, Contraceptive Practice, and Abortion

The pattern of induced abortion during the demographic transition seems fairly constant and relatively uninfluenced by abortion law. In most instances, the transition to lower fertility rates involves an initial increase in the incidence of abortion and creates pressure for liberalization of abortion laws. If modern contraceptives are made widely available at the same time that abortion is legalized, countries undergoing this demographic transition can avoid long term dependence on abortion as the primary method of birth prevention. However, if family planning education and service programs receive minimal public support, abortion may continue to account for an abnormally large share of births avoided long after lower birth rates have been achieved.