Topeka ? The number of abortions performed in Kansas decreased for the fourth straight year, according to state statistics.

There were 10,542 abortions in Kansas in 2005, down from 11,446 in 2004 – a nearly 8 percent decrease, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported.

The number of abortion has declined each year since 2001, when 12,422 were reported.

Officials said they had no idea why the number was decreasing except that similar decreases had occurred nationwide.

Of the abortions performed in Kansas, 53.4 percent were to in-state patients; most out-of-state patients were from Missouri.