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Characteristics and Circumstances of Adolescents Obtaining Abortions in the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Doris W. Chiu

    (Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY 10038, USA)

  • Ava Braccia

    (Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY 10038, USA)

  • Rachel K. Jones

    (Guttmacher Institute, New York, NY 10038, USA)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the sociodemographic and situational circumstances of adolescents obtaining abortion in the United States prior to the Dobbs decision. We use data from the Guttmacher Institute’s 2021–2022 Abortion Patient Survey, a cross-sectional survey of 6698 respondents; our analytic sample includes 633 adolescents (<20 years), 2152 young adults (20–24 years), and 3913 adults (25+ years). We conducted bivariate analyses to describe the characteristics and logistical and financial circumstances of adolescents obtaining abortions in comparison to respondents in the other age groups. The majority of adolescents identified as non-white (70%), and 23% identified as something other than heterosexual. We found that 26% of adolescents reported having no health insurance, and two-thirds of adolescent respondents reported that somebody had driven them to the facility. Adolescents differed from adults in their reasons for delays in accessing care; a majority of adolescents (57%) reported not knowing they were pregnant compared to 43% of adults, and nearly one in five adolescents did not know where to obtain the abortion compared to 11% of adults. Adolescents were more likely than adults to obtain a second-trimester abortion, which has increased costs. This study found that this population was more vulnerable than adults on several measures. Findings suggest that adolescents navigate unique barriers with regard to information and logistics to access abortion care.

Suggested Citation

  • Doris W. Chiu & Ava Braccia & Rachel K. Jones, 2024. "Characteristics and Circumstances of Adolescents Obtaining Abortions in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:4:p:477-:d:1375344
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ernestina Coast & Samantha R Lattof & Yana van der Meulen Rodgers & Brittany Moore & Cheri Poss, 2021. "The microeconomics of abortion: A scoping review and analysis of the economic consequences for abortion care-seekers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Theodore J. Joyce & Robert Kaestner & Jason Ward, 2020. "The Impact of Parental Involvement Laws on the Abortion Rate of Minors," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(1), pages 323-346, February.
    3. Jenny A. Higgins & Madison Lands & Taryn M. Valley & Emma Carpenter & Laura Jacques, 2021. "Real-Time Effects of Payer Restrictions on Reproductive Healthcare: A Qualitative Analysis of Cost-Related Barriers and Their Consequences among U.S. Abortion Seekers on Reddit," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-11, August.
    4. Whitney Garney & Kelly Wilson & Kobi V. Ajayi & Sonya Panjwani & Skylar M. Love & Sara Flores & Kristen Garcia & Christi Esquivel, 2021. "Social-Ecological Barriers to Access to Healthcare for Adolescents: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-19, April.
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