A leading Irish family planning clinic has reported a substantial increase in the amount of women seeking post-abortion care.
Last year the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) saw an 85 percent increase in abortion related cases, according to their annual report, released on Monday.
Over 1,400 women, girls and couples received one-to-one crisis pregnancy counseling across their 11 centers in 2011.
The group said an improved awareness of counseling services has resulted in an increase in the numbers attending the clinics and calling their helpline.
Chief executive Niall Behan said, “The improved awareness of the availability of the IFPA’s post-abortion counselling services, the breakdown of stigma associated with the procedure and women’s increasing willingness to discuss abortion are all factors that have led to more demand for our crisis pregnancy facilities.”
He added: “On the whole, women seem to be more willing to speak about such situations, and more inclined to avail of the support services available to them.”
In its two Dublin Clinics alone, the IFPA provided family planning advice to around 19,000 clients.
They reported a drop in the number of clients attending for the emergency contraceptive pill, since it was made available over the counter at pharmacies last year.
Ireland’s first family planning clinic, the IFPA was established by seven volunteers in 1969 in response to the State’s blanket ban on contraception.
3 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.WoundedKnee | Sep 19, 2012, 03:04 PM EDT
Don't forget that American billionaire Chuck Feeney bankrolls the Irish version of Planned Parenthood.
IrelandNorth | Sep 19, 2012, 08:06 AM EDT
Bodies such as the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) often have a paradoxical effect, causing problems they were established to resolve. Did voluntary work for a certain flagship drugs treatment centre here in Dublin some years ago whom, almost preditably reported an increased demand for their services each year, not entirely uninfluenced by requirements of government funding. Needle exchanges may save users from the hepatitis, but they also encourage drug usage by seperating behaviour from responsibility. By mediating cause and effect. Likewise with IFPA unwittingly encouraging abortion. Some of the greatest damage done in modern society is by well intentioned but misguided do-gooders bearing all the hallmarks of indulgent mothering of spoild brats. Apologies if this sounds Ayn Rand-ish. It also happens to be true.
EphraimKibbey | Sep 18, 2012, 01:49 PM EDT
"The group said an improved awareness of counseling services has resulted in an increase in the numbers attending the clinics and calling their helpline." I wonder how much the economy has to do with the increase? If there is no money to feed the already-born ones, where will it come from to feed the new one?