title: Knowledge of Abortion Laws and Services Among Low-Income Women in Three United States Cities.
abstract: Low-income women and women of color are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancy. Lack of knowledge of abortion laws and services is one of several factors likely to hinder access to services, though little research has documented knowledge in this population. Survey with convenience sample of 1,262 women attending primary care or full-scope Ob/Gyn clinics serving low-income populations in three large cities and multivariable analyses with four knowledge outcomes. Among all participants, 53% were first-generation immigrants, 25% identified the correct gestational age limit, 41% identified state parental consent laws, 67% knew partner consent is not required, and 55% knew where to obtain abortion services. In multivariable analysis, first-generation immigrants and primarily Spanish speakers were significantly less likely than higher-generation or primarily English speakers to display correct knowledge. Design and evaluation of strategies to improve knowledge about abortion, particularly among migrant women and non-primary English speakers, is needed.
authors.affiliation: Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 265, San Francisco, CA, USA. diana.lara-rodgers@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.affiliation: Gynuity Health Projects, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.affiliation: Ibis Reproductive Health, Oakland, CA, USA.|Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D002947:Cities; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult; D000091762:Ethnic and Racial Minorities
keywords: Abortion; Abortion laws; Latino; Low-income population; Migration