In 2002, for women resident in England and Wales, the total number of abortions was 175,600, compared with 176,400 in 2001 (a fall of 0.5 per cent). The age-standardised abortion rate was 16.9 per 1,000 resident women aged 15-44. The abortion rate was highest, at 30.2 per 1000, for women in the 20-24 age group. The under-16 abortion rate was 3.5, compared with 3.7 in 2001.
Source: Abortion Statistics, England and Wales: 2002, Statistical Bulletin 2003/23, Department of Health (020 7972 5581)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
Date: 2003-Oct
An article presented and analysed women s childbearing intentions (from data collected in the General Household Survey). Data from the 21 surveys from 1979 to 2001 showed that over that period there had been a fall in women s intended numbers of births. However, the latest data (from the 1998, 2000 and 2001 surveys) showed that the average number of children intended was still around two, somewhat higher than the average number of children current fertility rates suggested women would have.
Source: Steve Smallwood and Julie Jefferies, 'Family building intentions in England and Wales: trends, outcomes and interpretations', Population Trends 112, Summer 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jun
There were 596,122 live births in England and Wales in 2002 - an increase of 0.25 per cent on 2001, when there were 594,634. This was the first increase since 1996. Apart from 2001, the annual total was still the lowest since 1977.
Source: Press release 13.4.03, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-May
An article examined the association between higher educational qualifications (any post-secondary school qualifications) and later entry to motherhood. The proportion of first-time mothers with a higher qualification was found to be much higher at later ages. For women either with or without higher qualifications, later age entry to motherhood was associated with the slower and later arrival of a second child.
Source: Michael Rendall and Steve Smallwood, 'Higher qualifications, first-birth timing, and further childbearing in England and Wales', Population Trends 111, Spring 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Apr
In Great Britain in 2001-02 the most common forms of contraception used by women aged under 50 were the contraceptive pill (used by 28 per cent), the male condom (21 per cent), and sterilisation (10 per cent of women had been sterilised and 12 per cent had a partner who had had a vasectomy).
Source: Fiona Dawe and Howard Meltzer, Contraception and Sexual Health: 2001, Series OS 21, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release (pdf)
Date: 2003-Mar
Conception rates among girls aged under 18 were 3 per cent lower in 2001 than in 2000, according to provisional estimates. Conception rates among girls aged under 16 were 4.5 per cent lower.
Source: 'Conceptions in England and Wales, 2001', Health Statistics Quarterly 17, Spring 2003, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | DH press release
Date: 2003-Feb
