Abortion access in the US: is it a fading reality? a mixed methods approach

This study investigates the roles of geographic barriers and legislative barriers on women’s access to abortion at the state and local levels. Women’s access to abortion is determined by legal restrictions that vary across states as well as by the geographic availability of abortion clinics. The past five years have seen an increase in state restrictions against abortion, which has led to the closure of clinics and barriers to women receiving services when needed. This study is conducted in two parts. The first part presents a GIS analysis of changing abortion restrictions and services at the national scale, and a case study of geographical access to abortion services in Indiana. Findings show rising inequality in abortion access among states. Increasing restrictions and decreasing availability of abortion providers are combining to restrict access for women in certain states in the Midwest and South. The second part involves an interview with abortion providers in Indiana, a state that is highly hostile towards abortion. The interviews reveal how abortion clinics and women who need abortion services are coping with the new antiabortion legislation. The study employs GIS analysis and qualitative research methods to demonstrate a pattern of legislative restrictions and geographic barriers that are sweeping the country and making it increasingly difficult to access abortion services