PIP: Researchers at the Kings County Hospital-Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn report a significant decrease in the delivery of immature infants and the number of abandoned infants at that hospital since New York's liberalized abortion law went into effect in July 1970. Pediatric and obstetrical/gynecological records for the 31/2 years before the law change and a 1-year period afterwards were analyzed and compared. An enormous rise was seen in the number of elective abortions, particularly among blacks, whose abortion rate was 6 times that of whites in all age groups. Even in the prime childbearing years, ages 20-35, there were 137 abortions for every 100 deliveries. The abortion rate declined, however, in women with 5 or more children. Since local birth rates have not fallen greatly, it is concluded that in-hospital abortions have replaced illegal abortions. Immature birthrates fell sharply in practically all groups, dropping over 50% among nonwhites. The number of newborns left for placement fell from 15 to 7 per 1000 deliveries. It is speculated that elective abortion is being used as a means of family planning among lower-income poorly educated nonwhites.