Abortions Down In Illinois

(CBS) -- There are fewer abortions happening in Illinois, reports WBBM's Veronica Carter.

The Illinois Department of Public Health says between 2010 and 2013, abortions decreased by 2.6 percent to just under 41,000. They've been on the decline here and nationwide.

Lee Hasselbacher, a family planning researcher at the University of Chicago, says it's a combination of better education and more contraceptives available.

"With these longer acting methods like IUDs and implants can be provided to women," Hasselbacher said. "In the past they were recommended most often for older women but a lot of the guidelines have changed and there has been a lot of new training for providers."

Illinois isn't as restrictive as other nearby states like Indiana and Missouri, and that means every year around 3,000 women who live in those states come here for abortions.