Induced Terminations of Pregnancy
(Abortions)

Abortion records are compiled from the Induced Termination of Pregnancy reports which are filed with the Department of Health and Senior Services by state law. The abortions system has been in place in Missouri continuously since 1975, although changes in data items and definitions have taken place over the years.

Abortion is defined by statute (Missouri Revised Statute, Chapter 188) as the intentional destruction of life of an embryo or fetus in his or her mother’s womb or the intentional termination of pregnancy of a mother with an intention other than to increase the probabilility of a live birth or to remove a dead or dying unborn child.

Missouri cooperates with other states in the exchange of induced termination of pregnancy records. However, Missouri has not received individual abortion records from Illinois since 1983 and Tennessee since 1997.

Abortion data is primarily used to monitor the effectiveness of family planning programs and unplanned pregnancies.