Disparities in abortion rates: a public health approach.

Publisher: American Public Health Association Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 1254074 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1541-0048 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00900036 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Washington, DC : American Public Health Association
Original Publication: New York [etc.]

Healthcare Disparities* ; Public Health*; Abortion, Induced/*statistics & numerical data ; Health Promotion/*methods; Female ; Health Status Disparities ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Unplanned ; Sexual Behavior ; Social Class ; United States

Women of lower socioeconomic status and women of color in the United States have higher rates of abortion than women of higher socioeconomic status and White women. Opponents of abortion use these statistics to argue that abortion providers are exploiting women of color and low socioeconomic status, and thus, regulations are needed to protect women. This argument ignores the underlying causes of the disparities. As efforts to restrict abortion will have no effect on these underlying factors, and instead will only result in more women experiencing later abortions or having an unintended childbirth, they are likely to result in worsening health disparities. We provide a review of the causes of abortion disparities and argue for a multifaceted public health approach to address them.

Contraception. 2011 Nov;84(5):478-85. (PMID: 22018121)
J Adolesc Health. 2010 Oct;47(4):399-406. (PMID: 20864010)
Am J Public Health. 2008 Oct;98(10):1786-92. (PMID: 18703454)
Fam Plann Perspect. 1984 Jul-Aug;16(4):171-2, 177-80. (PMID: 6386517)
Contraception. 2006 Oct;74(4):334-44. (PMID: 16982236)
Vital Health Stat 23. 2004 Dec;(24):1-48. (PMID: 15648540)
Fam Plann Perspect. 1999 Mar-Apr;31(2):64-72, 93. (PMID: 10224544)
Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Dec;120(6):1472-4. (PMID: 23168775)
Vital Health Stat 23. 2011 Oct;(31):1-35. (PMID: 22256688)
Fertil Steril. 2011 Jan;95(1):17-22. (PMID: 20579640)
Matern Child Health J. 2011 Oct;15(7):931-42. (PMID: 19943096)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2011 Sep;43(3):181-7. (PMID: 21884386)
Contraception. 2011 Jan;83(1):41-7. (PMID: 21134502)
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2002 Feb;186(2):251-2. (PMID: 11854644)
Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Apr;103(4):729-37. (PMID: 15051566)
Contraception. 2003 Feb;67(2):115-32. (PMID: 12586322)
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Apr 13;(4):CD004317. (PMID: 21491389)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2008 Jun;40(2):94-104. (PMID: 18577142)
J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010 Mar;19(3):589-95. (PMID: 20136552)
Contraception. 2012 Jun;85(6):544-51. (PMID: 22176796)
Women Health. 2005;42(1):23-39. (PMID: 16418120)
Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2007 Mar;34(1):91-111, ix. (PMID: 17472867)
Fam Plann Perspect. 1996 Nov-Dec;28(6):246-55, 277. (PMID: 8959414)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2012 Mar;44(1):30-8. (PMID: 22405149)
Am J Public Health. 2008 Sep;98(9 Suppl):S20-5. (PMID: 18687614)
Science. 2023 Jun 30;380(6652):1329. (PMID: 37384685)
J Soc Issues. 2005 Mar;61(1):109-26. (PMID: 17073026)
Fam Plann Perspect. 1998 Mar-Apr;30(2):89-92, 104. (PMID: 9561874)
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Mar;202(3):214-20. (PMID: 20207237)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2010 Jun;42(2):79-86. (PMID: 20618746)
MMWR Surveill Summ. 2012 Jun 8;61(4):1-162. (PMID: 22673000)
J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2011 May;22(2):415-21. (PMID: 21551921)
Fertil Steril. 2006 Apr;85(4):858-65. (PMID: 16580365)
Matern Child Health J. 2000 Dec;4(4):233-9. (PMID: 11272343)
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Jul;191(1):150-6. (PMID: 15295356)
Int J Health Serv. 2000;30(1):217-9. (PMID: 10707307)
J Health Psychol. 2003 Mar;8(2):263-76. (PMID: 22114130)
J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2011 Jun;24(3):142-6. (PMID: 21269849)
J Adolesc Health. 2011 Nov;49(5):538-41. (PMID: 22018570)
Fam Plann Perspect. 1996 Nov-Dec;28(6):256-60. (PMID: 8959415)
J Health Econ. 1999 Apr;18(2):241-57. (PMID: 10346355)
Contraception. 2010 May;81(5):363-6. (PMID: 20399941)
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Apr;202(4):335-43. (PMID: 20060513)
JAMA. 1993 Mar 10;269(10):1285-9. (PMID: 8437308)
Stud Fam Plann. 2008 Mar;39(1):18-38. (PMID: 18540521)
Contraception. 2013 Feb;87(2):154-61. (PMID: 22959904)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2011 Mar;43(1):41-50. (PMID: 21388504)
Fam Plann Perspect. 1988 Jul-Aug;20(4):169-76. (PMID: 3243347)
Soc Sci Med. 2005 Jan;60(2):297-311. (PMID: 15522486)
Am J Public Health. 2014 Feb;104 Suppl 1:S43-8. (PMID: 24354819)
Contraception. 2008 Apr;77(4):270-5. (PMID: 18342650)
J Adolesc Health. 2006 Jan;38(1):83-7. (PMID: 16387257)
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2010 May-Jun;39(3):328-38. (PMID: 20576076)
Soc Sci Med. 2003 Sep;57(5):881-93. (PMID: 12850113)
Contraception. 2004 Jul;70(1):31-9. (PMID: 15208050)
Womens Health Issues. 2008 Sep-Oct;18(5):360-8. (PMID: 18774454)
Fam Plann Perspect. 1995 Mar-Apr;27(2):54-9, 87. (PMID: 7796896)
Contraception. 2008 Oct;78(4):271-83. (PMID: 18847574)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2008 Dec;40(4):202-11. (PMID: 19067933)
Matern Child Health J. 2012 Nov;16(8):1576-82. (PMID: 21769588)
J Behav Med. 2009 Feb;32(1):20-47. (PMID: 19030981)
Contraception. 2007 Apr;75(4):305-10. (PMID: 17362711)
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Aug;203(2):115.e1-7. (PMID: 20541171)
Demography. 2004 Nov;41(4):697-720. (PMID: 15622950)
Natl Health Stat Report. 2012 Oct 18;(60):1-25. (PMID: 24988814)
Contraception. 2004 Oct;70(4):299-305. (PMID: 15451334)
Contraception. 2006 Sep;74(3):214-9. (PMID: 16904414)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2012 Sep;44(3):150-8. (PMID: 22958659)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2005 Sep;37(3):110-8. (PMID: 16150658)
J Natl Med Assoc. 2008 Jul;100(7):833-9. (PMID: 18672561)
Am J Public Health. 2007 Oct;97(10):1803-7. (PMID: 17761569)
JAMA. 2011 Sep 14;306(10):1070-1. (PMID: 21917569)
Adv Data. 2004 Dec 10;(350):1-36. (PMID: 15633582)
Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Apr;117(4):948-955. (PMID: 21422869)
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Oct;203(4):319.e1-8. (PMID: 20598282)
Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jan;107(1):128-35. (PMID: 16394050)
J Womens Hist. 2010;22(3):161-72. (PMID: 20857596)
Am J Prev Med. 2011 Jan;40(1 Suppl 1):S4-18. (PMID: 21146778)
Health Psychol. 2008 Mar;27(2):194-203. (PMID: 18377138)
Health Policy. 2009 May;90(2-3):196-205. (PMID: 19027188)
Obstet Gynecol. 2011 Jun;117(6):1358-1366. (PMID: 21606746)
Ann Epidemiol. 1997 Jul;7(5):322-33. (PMID: 9250627)
Am J Public Health. 2005 Jul;95(7):1128-38. (PMID: 15983269)
Am J Public Health. 2009 Apr;99(4):623-30. (PMID: 19197087)
Issues Brief (Alan Guttmacher Inst). 2002 Apr;(3):1-4. (PMID: 12134891)
J Health Econ. 2005 May;24(3):489-513. (PMID: 15811540)
Med Care Res Rev. 2010 Oct;67(5 Suppl):198S-230S. (PMID: 20675351)
Vital Health Stat 23. 2005 Dec;(25):1-160. (PMID: 16532609)
J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2001 Nov;14(4):153-62. (PMID: 11748010)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2007 Jun;39(2):90-9. (PMID: 17565622)
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2005 Sep;37(3):125-34. (PMID: 16150660)
Am J Public Health. 2000 Oct;90(10):1582-8. (PMID: 11029992)
Contraception. 2008 Jan;77(1):10-21. (PMID: 18082661)

Date Created: 20130817 Date Completed: 20131112 Latest Revision: 20240318

20240318

PMC3780732

10.2105/AJPH.2013.301339

23948010