The poor in Illinois using sterilization for birth curb

Illinois's poor are turning to sterilization as the ultimate means of birth control as a result of restrictions on government-funded abortions, health experts report. The Public Aid Department reported the state paid for a record number of sterilizations in 1980 -- 6,219, compared with 3,625 in 1979. In the first half of 1981, 2,857 sterilizations were performed.

Since the stringent abortion regulations took effect, the number of government-funded abortions has dropped dramatically. In the first six months of 1981, 10 state-funded abortions were performed, compared with 5,927 in 1980.