Secondary measures of access to abortions in the United States – cost, gestational age limits, and harassment – remained fairly stable from 2008 through 2012, according to an analysis from the Guttmacher Institute.
The researchers found that in 2008 and 2012, virtually all facilities offering abortions provided them at 8 weeks’ gestation. In 2012, 72% provided abortions at 12 weeks; 34%, at 20 weeks; and 16%, at 24 weeks. But few nonspecialized clinics and physician offices performed abortions after 9 weeks’ gestation (Womens Health Issues 2014;24:e419-24).
Similarly, costs remained about the same as in 2009 after adjustment for inflation, the researchers found. In 2011 and 2012, women paid $480, on average, for a surgical abortion at 10 weeks and $504 for an early medication abortion. The inflation-adjusted charge was $503 for a surgical abortion and $524 for an early medication abortion in 2009.
However, the stable cost may be based on providers’ efforts to keep services affordable as the cost of health care rose, the researchers noted.
The incidence of harassing behaviors at abortion facilities increased some between 2008 and 2011, climbing from 75% to 80% of clinics. In the recent survey, the most common form of harassment was exposure to picketing, followed by the harassing phone calls to facilities. In 2011, about a quarter of facilities also reported picketing that involved physical contact or blocking of patients.
The Guttmacher Institute, which conducts research into reproductive health issues and advocates for abortion access, analyzed data from its 16th census of all known abortion facilities in the United States. The data set included gestational age limits in 2012, average charges for abortion services in 2011 and 2012, and information on seven forms of harassment reported in 2011.
While the secondary factors affecting abortion access have remained "relatively stable" in recent years, the researchers noted that states have been active since the study period in passing additional abortion restrictions. For instance, in 2012, 42 laws restricting abortions were enacted around the country, with another 70 enacted in 2013.
mschneider@frontlinemedcom.com
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