Abortion in the Bluegrass - by the Numbers

by Addia Wuchner, Executive Director, KRTL

Premature death is defined as death occurring before the average age of death in certain populations, such as accidental deaths: falls, drownings, auto accidents, drug overdoses, other.

In 2020, the Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics reported 1,964 overdose deaths. Headlines read, “Drug overdose numbers up 49%” (Fentanyl and Methamphetamines were the biggest contributors.)

Kentucky’s Leading Causes of Death in 2020 were:

• Cancer Deaths, approx. 10,312
• Heart Disease Deaths, approx. 10,077
• *Abortion Deaths, approx. 4,000 (#3 cause of death in Kentucky)
• Chronic Respiratory Diseases, approx. 3,331

The death of a child is always tragic and heartbreaking. Unintentional injury deaths of children consist mainly of accidents and are, without a doubt, the most preventable deaths for children. The intentional injury deaths of children mainly consist of murder and suicide. In 2019, Kentucky reported 139 suspicious cases of child fatality, or near fatality, due to abuse, neglect, and maltreatment; 85% of the children were under four years old and approximately 40% (77 children) were under 12 months old.

Yet, the #3 cause of death in Kentucky, abortion, is both premature death and intentional injury death — as recognized by those of us who acknowledge the dignity of the smallest and most vulnerable humans in our midst: The preborn child’s death is a profoundly tragic reflection of rejection and violence against a child.

Until there are no more—

Kentucky Right to Life and our Chapters throughout Kentucky will continue to pray, educate, and collaborate with other ProFamily advocates, support pregnancy care and programs, and work with Kentucky senators and representatives to advocate for legislation that protects the human rights of the preborn child and other vulnerable persons in our society.

CHARTS

ABORTIONS BY MONTH

MONTHLY CUMULATIVE TOTALS

Acknowledgements:

Thank you to Donna Durning for faithfully providing the onsite abortion reports. Donna has been an unwavering advocate for life outside EMW abortion facility for years, offering hope, love, and prayers on the sidewalk; ministering to women and men as they enter to terminate the life of their child. The chart at left documents Donna’s counts outside of the EMW abortion facility.

Also, our sincere appreciation to Missy Stone, Executive Director of Reprotection, for her critical statistical and abortion reporting evaluations like this chart.

*Note: Kentucky is unable to adequately capture reporting data of expectant moms who live in close proximity to Tennessee or Ohio and may travel out of state to terminate their pregnancies, so we project this number is actually higher. ALSO: The 2021 figures include the abortions performed by Planned Parenthood in Louisville.