Abortion Decision Research Articles

Women’s experiences of needing abortion care whilst incarcerated: a systematic review of the international literature

Incarcerated women are confined in institutions designed to punish. These sites often ignore the complex mental and physical health needs of people who are incarcerated. Despite the World Health Organization stressing the need for access to reproductive healthcare in carceral institutions, stigma surrounding abortion care and health inequalities create contextually specific issues for incarcerated people seeking to access these services. There is also a dearth of research conducted directly with incarcerated women, trans men and non-binary people to examine their experiences of abortion. A systematic review of international peer-reviewed and grey literature was completed to summarise existing evidence from research conducted on the experiences of needing abortion care whilst incarcerated. Various experiences were identified including: conditions of confinement shaping abortion decisions; bureaucratic obstacles to accessing abortion services; incarcerated women, carceral staff and carceral healthcare staff’s lack of understanding of abortion rights and procedures; and a scarcity of support and empathy, including experiences of stigmatisation and lack of confidentiality. There exists a significant gap in research examining the experiences of incarcerated people who may need an abortion, emphasising the need for international collaboration and advocacy to address systemic issues that extend beyond local contexts.

A Critical Analysis of Safe Abortion Road Map in Nepal.

Abortion was legalized by the 2002 Muluki Ain to combat the surging rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. By 2021, the Maternal Mortality Rate plummeted to 151 from 539 in 1996. The decline in the abortion-related maternal mortality attributes to the implication of progressive abortion policies that includes expanded safe abortion services introduction of medical abortion, constitutional recognition of abortion, the mandates by Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, and free-of-cost abortion services in government health facilities. This review study delves into exploring the contemporary abortion policies and its implications on women's access to safe abortion services as well as the factors that affect the access. This study incorporates findings from extensive desk review of abortion services in Nepal. The 2021 safe abortion services Program Implementation Guideline aims to expand safe abortion sites; however, the Nepal's challenging geography ensues its inequitable distribution, especially in mountainous area. Policy provisions on information and financial accessibility to abortion are well navigated by the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act and regulation but consistent to sporadic gaps in its implementation were comprehended in this study. This paper further discussed the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act's regressive mandate of 28-week gestational limit at any condition and the role of gender in abortion decision-making under the pretext of factors influencing safe abortion services. The review study recommends strategies: improving capacity for abortion services under federalism, combating stigma, improving the private sector's readiness, and building a resilient health system.

Abortion From Countries A to U: A Comparative Analysis of Abortion Laws and Attitudes in America and Uzbekistan

This paper compares and analyses abortion laws in the United States, one of the world’s oldest democracies, to those in Uzbekistan, an ancient middle Asian country that gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The authors examine both the United States and Uzbekistan constitutions and other laws regulating abortion and other reproductive rights. Regarding the United States, it tracks key abortion decisions from the Supreme Court. The authors also explore general attitudes about abortion and reproductive rights in both countries.

"I Need Help With the Abortion, so I Won't Have to Ever See or Hear From Him Again": Relationship Barriers Faced by Abortion Fund Applicants in the Rocky Mountain West.

To explore the factors impacting abortion access for abortion fund clients, data from 816 applicants was analyzed using a summative content analysis approach. Nine relationship themes emerged for applicants who cited their partner as a significant factor in their abortion decision-making, including (a) power and control, (b) fear and safety concerns, (c) leaving the relationship, (d) barriers to accessing care, (e) sexual violence, (f) perpetration and victimization, (g) having an unsupportive partner, (h) being partnerless, and (i) having a supportive partner. Abortion funds are a potential resource for those experiencing intimate partner violence and can support survivors through confidential care and referrals.

Factors Influencing Abortion Decision-Making of Adolescents and Young Women: A Narrative Scoping Review.

Globally, about half of all induced abortions have been estimated to be unsafe, which results in 13% of maternal deaths yearly. Of these induced abortions, 41% of unsafe abortions have been reported in young women who are dependent on their parents for their livelihood. They are often left in a vulnerable position and may have difficulty in making a decision regarding abortion. This study aimed to (1) characterize and map factors that influence abortion decision-making of adolescents and young women, and (2) identify the care and support that they need in their decision-making process. We conducted a scoping review following the JBI method and PRISMA-ScR checklist. We comprehensively searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycInfo, and hand searched publications in the Google Scholar database between November 2021 and October 2023. The search included all English language qualitative and mixed methods research articles published on the database up to October 2023 that included participants aged 10-24 years. The CASP checklist was used as a guide for the qualitative analysis. NVivo was used to synthesize the findings. There were 18 studies from 14 countries (N = 1543 young women) that met the inclusion criteria. Three domains and eleven categories were included as follows: personal (desire for self-realization and unwanted pregnancy), interpersonal (parental impact, reaction of partner, roles of peers and friends, existence of own child, and lack of support), and social circumstances (sexual crime, financial problem, limitation of choice, and underutilized healthcare services). Decision-making factors regarding abortions were also found across all three domains. The abortion decision-making of young women is influenced by various external factors regardless of country. Parents are especially influential and tend to force their daughters to make a decision. Young women experienced suffering, frustration, and lack of autonomy in making decisions based on their preference. This emphasizes the importance of autonomous decision-making. In this regard, healthcare services should be used. However, there are barriers to accessing these services. To improve such access, the following are required: staff training to provide adolescent and youth-friendly health services, counseling based on women's needs, counseling including the parents or guardians that is confidential and ethical, promotion of decision aids, and affordable accessible care.

The experience of abortion for Cook Islands women: exploring the socio-cultural dimensions of abortion safety

Abortion is significantly restricted by law in most Pacific Island countries, impacting the rights, health and autonomy of people who experience pregnancy. We undertook qualitative research between February and August 2022 on Rarotonga, Cook Islands, where abortion is illegal under most circumstances. We conducted interviews with women who had accessed or tried to access abortion services; people who had supported women to access abortion services; health workers; and advocates to understand their experiences regarding abortion. We conducted focus groups to explore broader social perceptions and experiences of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including abortion. Participants described their abortion decisions and methods, and their negotiation of the personal context of their sexual behaviours, pregnancies, and abortions relative to their socio-cultural context and values. As defined by the World Health Organization, safe abortion relates to the methods and equipment used and the skills of the abortion provider. We argue for an expansion of this definition to consider inclusion of reference to individuals’ ‘abortion safety nets’ as the sum of their access to financial, political, health care and socio-cultural resources. These safety nets are shaped by discourses related to abortion and socio-cultural support and values, impacting physical, emotional, psychological, social and spiritual health.

Anxiety and Depression Symptoms After the Dobbs Abortion Decision

ImportanceIn 2022, the US Supreme Court abolished the federal right to abortion in the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision. In 13 states, abortions were immediately banned via previously passed legislation, known as trigger laws.ObjectiveTo estimate changes in anxiety and depression symptoms following the Dobbs decision among people residing in states with trigger laws compared with those without them.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsUsing the nationally representative repeated cross-sectional Household Pulse Survey (December 2021-January 2023), difference-in-differences models were estimated to examine the change in symptoms of depression and anxiety after Dobbs (either the June 24, 2022, Dobbs decision, or its May 2, 2022, leaked draft benchmarked to the baseline period, prior to May 2, 2022) by comparing the 13 trigger states with the 37 nontrigger states. Models were estimated for the full population (N = 718 753), and separately for 153 108 females and 102 581 males aged 18 through 45 years.ExposureResiding in states with trigger laws following the Dobbs decision or its leaked draft.Main Outcomes and MeasuresAnxiety and depression symptoms were measured via the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 ([PHQ-4]; range, 0-12; scores of more than 5 indicate elevated depression or anxiety symptoms; minimal important difference unknown).ResultsThe survey response rate was 6.04% overall, and 87% of respondents completed the PHQ-4. The population-weighted mean age was 48 years (SD, 17 years), and 51% were female. In trigger states, the mean PHQ-4 scores in the baseline period and after the Dobbs decision were 3.51 (95% CI, 3.44 to 3.59) and 3.81 (95% CI, 3.75 to 3.87), respectively, and in nontrigger states were 3.31 (95% CI, 3.27 to 3.34) and 3.49 (95% CI, 3.45 to 3.53), respectively. There was a significantly greater increase in the mean PHQ-4 score by 0.11 (95% CI, 0.06 to 0.16; P < .001) in trigger states vs nontrigger states. From baseline to after the draft was leaked, the change in PHQ-4 was not significantly different for those in trigger states vs nontrigger states (difference-in-differences estimate, 0.09; 95% CI, −0.03 to 0.21; P = .15). From baseline to after the Dobbs opinion, there was a significantly greater increase in mean PHQ-4 scores for those in trigger states vs nontrigger states among females aged 18 through 45 years (difference-in-differences estimate, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.08 to 0.37; P = .002). Among males aged 18 through 45 years, the difference-in-differences estimate was not statistically significant (0.14; 95% CI, −0.08 to 0.36; P = .23). Differences in estimates for males and females aged 18 through 45 were statistically significant (P = .02).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study of US survey data from December 2021 to January 2023, residence in states with abortion trigger laws compared with residence in states without such laws was associated with a small but significantly greater increase in anxiety and depression symptoms after the Dobbs decision.

Aborted Women's Feelings and Experiences with Abortion: A Qualitative Study

Objective: This study aimed to reveal the feelings and experiences of women who had abortions based on their own experiences. Method: The qualitatively designed study was conducted with 11 women who applied to a Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul for abortion and met the inclusion criteria. The data were collected by the researchers with an 11-question participant information form and a semistructured interview form consisting of five questions. Results: The themes obtained from the research were determined as "The meaning of abortion", "The meaning attributed to the abortion decision", "Family and social support", "Community attitude" and "Attitude of healthcare professionals". Conclusion: Women who have had abortions are influenced by the perspective of society, religious values, and the approach of health professionals. There is a need to develop procedures that will positively affect women's abortion experiences.

Factors Predicting Intention for Abortion in Thai Adolescents

Introduction Currently, abortions are significant public health concerns among Thai adolescents. Therefore, investigating the factors that predict the intention for abortion in this population is crucial, contributing to the development of guidelines aimed at preventing abortions among Thai adolescents. Objective The aim of this study was to examine factors predicting abortion in adolescents. Design This study employed a correlational predictive design, applying the Theory of Planned Behavior. Methodology Through purposive sampling, the participants consisted of 120 adolescents aged 13–19 years residing in Bangkok. Sample size was determined based on Green statistics. The research instruments included questionnaires on attitudes toward abortion, subjective norms about abortion, perceived control for abortion decision-making, and intention for abortion. Content validity was examined by five experts, obtaining the content validity indices (CVIs) of 1.00, 1.00, .96, and 1.00, respectively. Reliability was tested, yielding Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of .74, .84, .68, and .93, respectively. Data were collected through self administration between October 2021 and March 2022. Data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multiple Regression Analysis. Results Participants had mean age of 13.95 years (SD=1.70). Multiple regression analysis showed that the participants’ attitudes toward abortion and perceived control for abortion decision-making jointly accounted for 42.4% of the variance in adolescents’ intentions for abortion (F = 28.486, p &lt; .001). Perceived control for abortion decision-making had the highest predictive power (β = −.419, p &lt; .001), followed by attitudes toward abortion (β = −.252, p = .002). However, subjec- tive norms about abortion did not significantly predict intention for abortion. Recommendation Efforts should be made to develop a program for adolescents experiencing unwanted pregnancies to foster positive attitudes towards preventing abortion and perceived control for abortion decision-making that will mitigate intention for illegal abortion.

Medication Abortion and Abortion Pill Reversal: An Exploratory Analysis on the Influence of Others in Women's Decision-Making.

Introduction As medication abortion accounts for a growing share of abortions in the United States, an increasing number of women are seeking abortion pill reversal (APR). These decisions are typically not made in isolation. However, little research exists on women's APR decision-making and the role played by people close to them. Methods We surveyed women who contacted a national hotline for information on APR and who completed a two-week treatment protocol with progesterone (n = 67). We analyzed women's open-ended answers using thematic analysis to identify memorable messages about medication abortion and APR. Participants' communication with other people in their lives was assessed using the Isolation subscale of the Individual Level Abortion Stigma (ILAS) scale, and decision-making difficulty was assessed using a Likert scale. Results Thirty-six respondents met the eligibility criteria and filled out the ILAS and decision-difficulty scales. Women tended to talk with family and friends about their medication abortion decisions, while they typically sought information online when deciding about APR. Women reported greater stigma in their disclosures about their abortions than in their disclosures about APR (p = 0.006). Conclusion Memorable messages influence women's decisions to pursue medication abortion and APR.

« Éloigne cette honte de moi! »: une étude qualitative des normes sociales entourant les expériences d’avortement chez les adolescentes et jeunes femmes au Bénin

Résumé En Afrique, les droits des adolescentes et des jeunes femmes en matière de santé sexuelle et reproductive sont fortement influencés par les normes sociales. Cet article se penche sur le rôle crucial que jouent ces normes dans les décisions et les parcours d’avortement des jeunes femmes âgées de 15 à 24 ans au Bénin. Une approche ethnographique a été adoptée pour la collecte des données auprès des jeunes femmes ayant eu recours à l’avortement, de leurs proches, ainsi que d’autres membres de la communauté. Les résultats révèlent que ces jeunes femmes se retrouvent confrontées à une triple charge normative dans leur environnement social. Elles doivent jongler avec des normes contradictoires qui stigmatisent à la fois les grossesses précoces, entravent une éducation sexuelle adéquate, et condamnent fermement l’avortement. Ces pressions normatives sont souvent le moteur de leur recours à des avortements, généralement effectués dans des conditions précaires. L’étude met également en évidence le rôle majeur des parents dans les décisions et les démarches d’avortement des adolescentes de moins de 20 ans. Lorsque les hommes sont impliqués dans la recherche de soins pour l’avortement, les adolescentes et les jeunes femmes ont généralement accès à des procédures sécurisées. Cependant, leur accès aux soins de suivi et à la contraception après un avortement est entravé par les normes sociales des professionnels de la santé. En plus de l’élargissement des conditions d’accès à l’avortement au Bénin en octobre 2021, il est impératif de mettre en œuvre des interventions axées sur la clarification des valeurs, la sensibilisation aux droits des adolescentes, la lutte contre les violences obstétricales et la stigmatisation sociale. Ces mesures sont essentielles pour alléger le poids des normes sociales qui pèsent sur ces jeunes femmes.

An Axiological Perspective On Abortion Decisions: A Case Study Of Individuals' Reasons As A Reflection Of Values And Ethics

Abortion, as an intentional act of terminating pregnancy, focuses on various reasons, including maternal health conditions, fetal abnormalities, pregnancies resulting from rape, and economic and social factors. Abortion is considered a significant public health issue, particularly due to its substantial impact on maternal morbidity and mortality. This study also highlights the importance of considering values and ethics in abortion decision-making, emphasizing the role of an axiological approach. The research method is qualitative with a phenomenological approach. The findings indicate that abortion decisions are influenced by economic factors, marital status, and psychosocial aspects. An axiological approach is crucial for considering ethical and moral values in abortion decisions.

Abortions Outcomes of People with Sickle Cell Disease

Introduction People with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk for SCD-associated complications with routine procedures. Whether people with SCD seeking abortions require special consideration is unknown. At our center, 28% of surveyed women with SCD reported having had an abortion, and 32% believed abortion to be unsafe for people with SCD. This cohort also reported low rates of long-acting contraception use. Information about abortion outcomes among people with SCD is important to inform care and minimize unnecessary delays, particularly as people in the U.S. face barriers to abortion access. The purpose of this study is to describe a single-center experience with abortions for people with SCD. Methods This single-center JHU IRB-approved study included people with SCD ages 18-55 years who had a medication or procedural abortion between April 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022. Systematic data collected from electronic health records included patient demographics, pregnancy information (e.g., gravidity), SCD characteristics (e.g., genotype), healthcare utilization, and abortion information, including the type of abortion, anesthesia and steroid use, pre- and post-abortion transfusion use, and the number and type of post-abortion complications. These complications included SCD complications (e.g., pain crises and acute chest syndrome) and non-SCD complications (e.g., infections and hemorrhage). SAS was used to generate descriptive statistics. Results There were 19 subjects with 27 abortions between 2013 and 2022. The median age at the time of abortion care was 24 years (IQR: 20-29). About half of the subjects with known genotypes (10/18, 56%) had HbSS/HbSβ0 thalassemia and accounted for an equal proportion of abortions (15/27, 56%). The nearest median hemoglobin level to abortion was 8.9 g/dL (IQR: 8.1-10.6). In 15/27 (56%) abortions, the subject was on disease-modifying therapy (hydroxyurea or chronic transfusions) before pregnancy, and two subjects stopped taking hydroxyurea during pregnancy. Six subjects who had 11/27 (41%) abortions in the cohort had ≥ five hospitalizations for pain crises in the year before abortion. Most abortions (24/27, 96%) were managed with a &amp;lt;30-minute dilation and curettage or dilation and evacuation. The median gestational age at the time of abortion care was 10 weeks (IQR: 8-14). Among procedural abortions (N=24), seven were treated with steroids. The rates of 7-day and 30-day complications for procedural abortions were 6/24 (26%) and 10/24 (42%), respectively, of which a majority were SCD pain crises (Table 1). Baseline pain crisis frequency was six times higher in subjects with post-abortion pain crises compared to those without. There was no difference in pain crisis after abortion between those with steroid use (4/7, 56%) compared to those without steroid use (8/16, 50%). Conclusions In this cohort, most abortions were procedural and required brief anesthesia. This does not routinely require prophylactic transfusion. Steroids, a risk factor for pain crises, were commonly used in procedural abortions. The high rate of baseline pain crises in this cohort confounded the association between abortions and post-abortion pain crises. People with HbSS/HbSβ0 thalassemia were underrepresented in our cohort when compared to the general SCD population. This may reflect differences in pregnancy rates or abortion decision-making within this group. Limitations include that this study is single-center and did not capture abortions performed outside our healthcare system. Larger studies are needed to define management and inform abortion care for people with SCD.

Social Work in a Post-Dobbs World: The ‘Adoption Fallacy’, Decolonization, and Reproductive Justice

This article takes as its departure a critique of the ‘adoption fallacy’ underlying the US Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization to argue that the Dobbs decision incentivizes a reconsideration of social work practice as a site for advancing reproductive justice. To do this, however, social work must strive to decolonize the profession by critically reflecting on its role in reproductive policy and politics, particularly its complicity in abortion and adoption decisions that may have limited—and continue to limit—reproductive justice. Only then can social work effectively counter the adoption fallacy and advocate more broadly for reproductive justice.

Reasons for participation in abortion research in restrictive settings

ObjectivesFollowing the implementation of a restrictive abortion law in Texas (Senate Bill 8), we conducted in-depth interviews with pregnant people about their experiences seeking abortion care. In this analysis, we explore participants’ motivations for taking part in a research study. Study designBetween October 2021 and August 2022, we conducted 120 in-depth interviews with Texans (aged ≥15 years) who, after considering abortion, had a facility-based abortion, self-managed their abortion, experienced miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, or continued their pregnancy. We asked all interviewees, “Why did you decide to participate in the interview?” For analysis, we used inductive and deductive coding approaches to explore motivations for and concerns about participation. ResultsMost commonly, interviewees appreciated the opportunity to share their stories, frequently describing how their experiences highlight the nuance of abortion decision-making and challenge stigmatized views about abortion. Some described an emotional benefit of participating, as they had no one else to whom to disclose their experience without judgment. Many hoped to help others by participating, saying that access to other people’s stories would have helped them feel less isolated. Relatedly, many viewed their participation as an opportunity to speak out against restrictive policies that caused them harm, hardship, and distress. Interviewees seldom cited the monetary incentive alone as motivation for participation. A few expressed concerns about participating out of fear of legal repercussions for others involved in their abortion process (e.g., ride-share driver). These themes were consistent across pregnancy outcomes. ConclusionsResearch volunteers are motivated to participate for altruistic and self-benefiting reasons. ImplicationsThis study provides insights into what people seeking abortion consider when deciding to participate in qualitative research. Research ethics committees evaluating and researchers conducting abortion research should weigh these motivations, perceived benefits, and concerns. Policies that enhance protections for participant data are needed to support knowledge generation from abortion research.

Helping patients choose between pain control options for outpatient procedural abortion at less than 12 weeks' gestation

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify predictors of patient satisfaction with their chosen pain control regimen for procedural abortion at <12 weeks' gestation in the outpatient setting. Study designIn this prospective cohort study, we developed an instrument to evaluate predictors of satisfaction with pain control regimens among patients choosing local anesthesia alone (paracervical block with 20 mL of 1% buffered lidocaine) or local anesthesia plus intravenous (IV) moderate sedation with 100 mcg of fentanyl and 2 mg of midazolam. Our primary outcome was to identify predictors of satisfaction with both anesthesia cohorts as measured on a 4-point Likert scale, but due to high satisfaction levels in the IV group, we focused our analysis on the local anesthesia group. ResultsWe enrolled 149 patients in the local anesthesia group and 155 in the moderate IV sedation group. The mean procedure pain scores were 6.9 (±2.1) out of 10 in the local group and 4.0 (±2.7) in the IV group (p < 0.0001). More women in the IV group (92%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the amount of pain relief they experienced compared to the local group (66%; p < 0.0001). In the univariable model, only being afraid of a minor medical procedure was predictive of less satisfaction with local anesthesia for pain control (relative risk 0.8 [95% CI, 0.6–0.9]). Age, gestational age, anticipated pain, self-reported pain tolerance, self-reported anxiety, discomfort with the abortion decision, and history of prior vaginal or cesarean delivery or induced abortion did not predict satisfaction levels. ConclusionsFear of minor medical procedures was the only variable that predicted decreased satisfaction with local anesthesia alone for procedural abortion under 12 weeks. ImplicationsReliable predictors for satisfaction with local anesthesia alone for procedural abortion in the outpatient setting remain elusive. Fear of minor medical procedures may serve as an indicator of decreased satisfaction and could be incorporated into patient counseling. Moderate IV sedation is associated with high satisfaction levels.

Self-managed medication abortion trajectories: results from a prospective observational study in Argentina, Nigeria and Southeast Asia

ObjectivesTime is a crucial factor in abortion-seeking because options for care change with pregnancy duration, and most people prefer to access abortion care early in pregnancy. We aimed to collect...

Reproductive Justice as a Framework for Abortion Care.

This article presents an in-depth analysis of abortion access and rights within the Reproductive Justice framework, underscoring the health, social, and economic consequences of limited access. It emphasizes the critical role of abortion as essential, safe health care and highlights the complexities surrounding abortion decisions and the barriers faced by poor and historically marginalized populations. Amid the escalating access restrictions, the article concludes with a call to action for obstetricians and gynecologists and our allied health care providers to recognize, support, and advocate for safe, legal, and affordable abortion services as fundamental to health care equity and human rights.

Transgressing biomedical and legal boundaries: The “enticing and hazardous” challenges and promises of a Self-Managed Abortion multiverse

Globally, abortion has largely been understood, researched, and regulated within a medico-legal paradigm. However, self-managed abortion (SMA) questions the centrality of the law and bio-medical paradigms, as well as the presumed individuality of abortion decision-making that it is predicated on. SMA offers an “enticing and hazardous” (Donnan & Magowan, 2009, p. 9) challenge to traditional legal and biomedical understandings of and approaches to abortion, as well as to social, religious, (pro)creative conventions. In this paper, we detail how abortion remains exceptionalised, setting conditions for “permissible transgressions”. We explore how SMA fundamentally challenges and alters meanings of abortion, and its care and provision: from whose authority and knowledge is valued and centred, to the environments that abortion is possible in, to issuing a broader challenge around how abortion itself is understood and depicted, and how SMA, thus, represents a deliberate move towards new ways of making meaning and (re)imagining abortions.

“Time and money and support”: Adolescents and young adults’ perceived social and logistical support needs for safe abortion care

ObjectiveTo understand what support adolescents and young adults need to access abortion amidst the changing legal landscape. Study designA diverse nationwide sample (N = 638, response rate 78%) of individuals aged 14–24 responded to a text message survey in July 2022 about the social and logistical support they would need for safe abortion access. Responses were coded and analyzed thematically. ResultsRespondents described parents and friends as primary sources of social support for potential abortion decisions. They frequently cited money and transportation as logistical support needs for out-of-state abortion care. ConclusionsAdolescents and young adults report needing social support and specific resources to ensure access to abortion. ImplicationsThis study highlights the perspectives and experiences of a diverse, nationwide sample of adolescents and young adults on their perceived abortion-related social and logistical support needs. These findings can support centering adolescents and young adults in practice and policy change to minimize barriers, improve social support, tailor resources and information about abortion, and streamline access to essential reproductive health services in a post-Dobbs landscape.