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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah's abortion rate fell to the lowest level ever recorded in 2014, continuing a trend seen in Utah and around the country for several years.
The report released by the Utah Department of Health last week shows there were 4.3 abortions per 1,000 women last year.
In 2013, Utah recorded 4.6 abortions per 1,000 women. Since Utah started tracking the rates in 1975, the highest rate was 11.1 in 1980.
Laurie Baksh with Utah's Department of Health said Monday that officials don't know exactly what's causing the rate to fall.
Baksh says it's possible that the rate is dropping as more women have access to and use of effective birth control methods such as such as intrauterine devices.
An Associated Press survey in June found that abortions have declined in nearly all states in recent years.
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