Evaluating the capacity of California's publicly funded universities to provide medication abortion

Raifman, Sarah; Anderson, Patricia J.; Kaller, Shelly; Tober, Diane; Grossman, Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2018.05.014

Cited by 9 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The majority of college or university student health centers (SHCs) nationwide provide some sexual and reproductive health services, which may include abortion counseling or referral, and Healthy Campus 2020 includes multiple objectives to improve student sexual and reproductive health [4,10]. As disparities to access increase nationally, research indicates SHCs can reduce critical determinants of reproductive and abortion care access such as travel distance, facilitate retention and graduation, and impact rural and other college students who face a limited and decreasing number of providers [3,[11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is unique in assessing whether and which types of reproductive health barriers exist and how they differ in the community healthcare system versus on campus. While data on projected student medication abortion rates, reproductive health barriers, and SHC staff perspectives exist, we sought to document student voices, experiences, and needs [1,3,7,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Decreasing reproductive and abortion care barriers: findings on the student health center's role from a student survey

Rohrer

Modrek

2023

BMC Women's Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background College-aged young adults in the US have low utilization and high need for reproductive healthcare. Multiple barriers to reproductive care exist. University Student Health Centers (SHCs) provide varying degrees of reproductive products and services. Recently, California legislated that public university SHCs add medication abortion to their care. Methods To examine existing attitudes and barriers to reproductive healthcare for public university students, we conducted an anonymous online survey at a large, diverse, urban coastal California State University. Students were asked about numerous barriers accessing reproductive services in general and at the SHC, which we categorized into three groups: stigma, access and system. Respondents were also asked about knowledge and preferences for accessing and recommending various services. To understand the extent to which inequities exist, we compared differences across racialized/ethnic identity, gender identity, anticipated degree, and living distance from campus using chi-squared tests. Results The majority of survey (n = 273) respondents experienced stigma and access barriers in general healthcare settings which made obtaining reproductive healthcare for themselves or their partners difficult (stigma barriers 55%; 95% CI 49%–61%; access barriers 68%; 95% CI 62–73%). Notably, students reported statistically significant lower rates of access barriers at the SHC, 50%, than in general reproductive healthcare settings, 68%. There were limited differences by student demographics. Students also reported a high willingness to use or recommend the SHC for pregnancy tests (73%; 95% CI 67–78%), emergency contraception pills (72%; 95% CI 66–78%) and medication abortion (60%; 95% CI 54–66%). Students were less likely to know where to access medication abortion compared to other services, suggesting unmet need. Conclusions Our study provides evidence that students face barriers accessing reproductive healthcare and that SHCs are a trusted and accessible source of this care. SHCs have a key role in increasing health, academic and gender equity in the post-Roe era. Attention and financial support must be paid to SHCs to ensure success as state legislatures mandate them to expand reproductive and abortion care access.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decreasing reproductive and abortion care barriers: findings on the student health center's role from a student survey

Rohrer

Modrek

2023

BMC Women's Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…35 Previous research in California before medication abortion was required on campuses showed that all SHCs either met the evidence-based requirements to provide medication abortion or could meet these requirements with modest investment. 36 Research also suggests telehealth medication abortion services can feasibly be implemented in diverse clinical settings, including those similar to SHCs. 37 This study is limited by the estimated proportion of medication abortions which is for all women of reproductive age and not specific to this age group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demand for Medication Abortion Among Public University Students in Washington

Riley¹,

Godfrey²,

Angelini³

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Provision of medication abortion in student health centers (SHC) is safe and effective, but only two states require public SHCs to provide such services. Washington state does not require medication abortion in public SHCs, yet abortion demand is greater and out-of-state patients have increased following the Dobbs decision. Here, we estimate demand for medication abortion and describe barriers to care among Washington public university students. Using publicly available data, we estimated that students at the 11 Washington public universities obtained between 404 and 549 medication abortions annually. Students must travel an average of 16 miles (range:1-78) or 73 minutes via public transit (range:22-284) round trip to the nearest abortion-providing facility. Average wait time for the first available appointment was 10 days (range:4-14), and average cost was $711. Public universities can play an integral role in expanding abortion access post-Dobbs by providing medication abortion, effectively reducing barriers to care for students.

show abstract

“…39 Previous research in California before medication abortion was required on campuses showed that all student health centers either met the evidence-based requirements to provide medication abortion or could meet these requirements with modest investment. 40 Additionally, to provide students with both telehealth and in-person visit options, research suggests that telehealth medication abortion services can feasibly be implemented in diverse clinical settings, including those similar to student health centers. 41 While ultrasounds are commonly cited as a costly implementation barrier, the current scientific consensus is that ultrasounds are not needed for effective and safe first-trimester medication abortions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Demand for Medication Abortion Among Public University Students in Washington

Riley,

Godfrey,

Angelini

et al. 2023

Contraception

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Evaluating the capacity of California's publicly funded universities to provide medication abortion

Abstract: If SB320 is passed, provision of MA services at student health centers could improve access to early abortion for students in California. This model may be scaled up at other universities around the country.

Cited by 9 publications

References 21 publications

Decreasing reproductive and abortion care barriers: findings on the student health center's role from a student survey

Decreasing reproductive and abortion care barriers: findings on the student health center's role from a student survey

Demand for Medication Abortion Among Public University Students in Washington

Demand for Medication Abortion Among Public University Students in Washington

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About