Abortion Care Advocacy 101
Accessible abortion care in the United States is and has been under extreme threat. The resources compiled in this section provide background information on the legality of abortion care across the country, as well as resources designed to help supporters advocate for increased access.
Abortion Access in the US
Anti-abortion advocates have been chipping away at abortion access since the Supreme Court passed Roe v. Wade in 1973. They have crafted and successfully lobbied for legislation that targets patient care by imposing burdens like unnecessary ultrasounds; legislation that targets providers by requiring redundant reporting; and legislation that targets the service itself, by banning various abortion methods and setting gestational limits.
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Key Facts on Abortion in the United States [Kaiser Family Foundation, 5/11/23]
Abortion providers in the United States: expanding beyond obstetrics and gynecology [National Library of Medicine, 5/23]
Society of Family Planning Interim Clinical Recommendations: Self-managed abortion [Society of Family Planning, 9/8/22]
State Constitutions and Abortion Rights [Center for Reproductive Rights, 7/22]
Key facts about the abortion debate in America [PEW Research Center, 7/15/22]
Public Opinion on Abortion [Pew Research, 5/17/22]
The association between state-level abortion restrictions and maternal mortality in the United States, 1995-2017 [ScienceDirect, 11/21]
State Abortion Policies and Maternal Death in the United States, 2015‒2018 [American Journal of Public Health, 9/21]
Shining the light on abortion: Drivers of online abortion searches across the United States in 2018 [PLOS One, 5/21/20]
The Medical and Social Benefits Of Abortion Access [Planned Parenthood, Date unknown]
Abortion Coverage in Your State [All Above All, Date unknown]
Medication Abortion [Guttmacher Institute]
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Self-Managed Abortion Talking Points and Message Guidance [Physicians for Reproductive Health, 3/22]
ACOG Guide to Language and Abortion [ACOG, Date unknown]
Operation Save Abortion [Abortion Access Front, Date unknown]
Policy Trackers:
State Policy Tracking [SMFM]
After Roe Fell: Abortion Laws by State [Center for Reproductive Rights]
Interactive Map: State Supreme Court Decisions Protecting Abortion Rights [Center for Reproductive Rights]
Interactive Map: US Abortion Policies and Access After Roe [Guttmacher Institute]
Abortion Policy Tracker [Kaiser Family Foundation]
State Legislation Tracker [Guttmacher Institute]
State Court Abortion Litigation Tracker [Brennan Center for Justice]
Advocating as a Clinician
Safe, accessible, and legal abortion is becoming increasingly rare in the United States thanks to decades of anti-abortion campaigns aimed at eliminating legal access to abortion at any time in pregnancy, without exception. In the face of this reality, abortion care advocates are working tirelessly to ensure that as many patients have access to care as possible. As clinicians, you have the expertise and the responsibility to take part in this advocacy.
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Perceptions of abortion access across the United States prior to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision: Results from a national survey [Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 7/20/23]
Clinical Policy Guidelines for Abortion Care [National Abortion Federation, 2022]
Community-led research for reproductive justice: Exploring the SisterLove Georgia Medication Abortion project [Frontiers, 8/12/22]
Addressing a Crisis in Abortion Access [Obstetrics and Gynecology, 6/7/22]
State Restrictions on Health Insurance Coverage of Abortion [Kaiser Family Foundation, 5/1/22]
Abortion Access Fact Sheet [ACOG, Date unknown]
The Facts on Reproductive Freedom [NARAL, Multiple dates]
United States Fact Sheets [Guttmacher, Multiple dates]
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Opportunities for Advocacy [The Nocturnist, 9/23]
Abortion Speaking Points [SMFM, 6/22]
Violet’s Abortion Access Toolkit for health care providers [Violet, 8/1/22]
Abortion Values Messaging Guide [National Women’s Law Center, 5/2/22]
Talking About Abortion: Core Messages [ACOG, Date unknown]
Evidence-Based Talking Points [ACOG, Date unknown]
Building Evidence-Based Skills for Effective Conversations about Abortion [ACOG, Date unknown]
Moonlighting: Employment Contract Toolkit for Clinicians Who Want to Moonlight as Abortion Providers [National Women’s Law Center, Date unknown]
The Framework: Counseling for Patient-Centered Abortion Care [Innovating Education in Reproductive Health, Date unknown]
Abortion Is Healthcare Toolkit [American College of Nurse-Midwives, Date unknown]
Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful tool in abortion care advocacy. While data and facts are critical - especially in the face of widespread misinformation - stories help to ground them in reality. It is easy for anti-abortion advocates to dismiss facts about healthcare services and procedures - it is harder for them to ignore the very real people who are impacted by restrictions on abortion care. As you start your advocacy journey, we recommend you begin by sharing your story as a provider.
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Abortion Out Loud [Advocates for Youth]
Crossing the Line Podcast [Population Media Center]
Why Abortion Stories Matter [New York Times, 6/4/23]
Bearing Witness: Reflections on Care and Advocacy One Year after Dobbs [ACOG, 6/23]
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Shout Your Abortion Toolkit [Shout Your Abortion, Date unknown]
How to Talk about Abortion [ACOG, Date unknown]
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Care Post Roe [UCSF]