Sue Taaffe
Hawke's Bay abortion numbers are dropping, as nationwide rates hit a 20 year low.
Latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show 455 abortions were performed in Hawke's Bay last year, down from 496 in 2012 and 534 in 2011.
Nationwide abortion rates for 2013 were the lowest in 20 years.
In total 14,073 induced abortions were performed last year, down from 14,745 in 2012 and 15,863 in 2011.
Family Planning says more access to reliable, accessible contraceptives is behind an international drop in abortion numbers.
Directions Youth Health Centre manager Sue Taaffe, in Hastings, was pleased to see a fall in abortions, particularly with regard to young people.
"This is likely to be a reflection on a sustained and multi-pronged approach to contraception including increased access which in many cases includes free access to reliable and long-acting contraception."
Increased use of long-acting implants such as Jadelle would be contributing to the reduction, she said.
"Jadelles are a commonly preferred method of contraception."
Directions were inserting and removing on average 270-300 Jadelles annually.
Depo Provera and combined oral contraceptives were also popular choices for young women.
It was important that young people understood the value of healthy sexual relationships, she said.
"Our Social Services team is doing a piece of work currently, within school-based settings, on educating young people on healthy relationships."
The "Sex & Ethics" programme focused on sexual violence prevention.
"It looks at how to ensure young people are making appropriate sexual choices."
The number of Hawke's Bay patients opting for condom prescriptions has declined from 2900 to 2000 over the past five financial years, according to Pharmac figures on subsidised contraceptives.
Long-acting implants such as the Jadelle implant, inserted into the upper arm, have become popular with patients since they were subsidised in 2010, although patient numbers have dropped since then from 800 at the end of the 2011 financial year to 500 last year.
Nationally, the general abortion rate (abortions per 1000 women aged 15-44) decreased from 16.1 in 2012 to 15.4 last year, the lowest since 1994, when it was 15.3, Statistics NZ said.
Abortion Law Reform Association New Zealand president Morgan Healey said there was no clear reason for the drop.
But anecdotally, increased access to long-term contraception appeared to be a contributing factor.
A main barrier to having an abortion was that it was still in the Crimes Act, Dr Healey believed.
To qualify for an abortion, a woman needs the approval of two certifying consultants.
The doctor performing the abortion has to believe it is immediately necessary to save the life of the patient or to prevent serious, permanent injury to her physical or mental health, or has to believe the foetus would have a serious disability.