Since 2001, the number of abortions in Germany has fallen constantly. In 2007, around 117,000 abortions were carried out (representing 72/10,000 women of childbearing age) as opposed to about 135,000 in 2001 (representing 80/10,000 women).
For Gisela Gröschl, a doctor and adviser at the Pro-Familia centre (Family Planning equivalent) in Berlin, this drop "is not primarily due to more widespread contraceptive measures" but to a new family policy.
For example, new measures provide for more crèches and combine parental grants and grants per child for one year. This new family policy, initiated during the second term of former chancellor Gerhard Schröder and maintained by the current family minister, Ursula von der Leyen, has led to a "change in mentalities": "mothers to be feel more supported by the State, the family and even by men"'.
"Far from offsetting the fall in birth rates since 1970" (fertility rates fell to 1 child per woman), these figures "confirm the trend has been halted".
Source : La Croix (Michel Verdier) 18/07/08