Intimate relationships after receiving versus being denied an abortion: A 5‐year prospective study in the United States

Abstract

Context When an individual seeking an abortion cannot obtain one, carrying that pregnancy to term may affect both her relationship with the man involved in the pregnancy and her prospects for new intimate relationships. We aimed to assess the impact of receiving versus being denied a wanted abortion on women's intimate relationships, up to 5 years after seeking an abortion in the United States. Methods Using mixed‐effects regression models, we compared relationship outcomes among women who presented for abortion care just under facilities' gestational age limits (“Near‐limit abortion patients,” n = 452) with those who presented just over, were denied an abortion (“Turnaways,” n = 146) at 30 US facilities. Results At 1 week post‐abortion seeking, the predicted probability of being in a relationship with the man involved in the pregnancy was 58%, gradually declining to 27% at 5 years with no significant differences between those who received and those who were denied an abortion. However, from 2 to 5 years post‐abortion seeking, participants who were denied an abortion had double the odds (aOR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.09–3.69) of being in a poor intimate relationship, with a predicted probability of being in a poor relationship of 14% among those denied an abortion compared with 9% among those who received one (p < 0.05). Conclusions Carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term does not increase the chance of being in an intimate relationship with the man involved in the pregnancy but may have negative implications for the quality of future relationships up to 5 years post‐abortion seeking.

Institutional leadership afterDobbs: a mixed methods analysis of US medical schools' public statements regarding abortion

“…12 In fact, another longitudinal cohort study of nearly 1000 patients demonstrated that denying someone wanted abortion care not only contributes to serious and preventable morbidity and mortality, including haemorrhage, eclampsia and death, but also has adverse social and economic sequelae, like increased rates of poverty and intimate partner violence. [13][14][15] These adverse health outcomes are explained, in part, by the lack of reproductive healthcare providers in abortionrestricted areas. Whereas in abortion-protective states, 25% of counties are considered maternity care deserts, that number increases to 39% in restrictive states.…”

“…A recent analysis of Centers for Disease Control data showed that abortion-restrictive states had a 62% higher perinatal maternal death rate and a 15% higher perinatal infant death rate than their abortion-protective counterparts 12. In fact, another longitudinal cohort study of nearly 1000 patients demonstrated that denying someone wanted abortion care not only contributes to serious and preventable morbidity and mortality, including haemorrhage, eclampsia and death, but also has adverse social and economic sequelae, like increased rates of poverty and intimate partner violence 13–15…”

Rising Up, Pushing Forward: Standing Our Ground in the Face of Injustice

“…For example, researchers have followed and compared groups of women who have sought and obtained an abortion alongside those who have sought and been denied an abortion. Results have shown that those denied an abortion were twice as likely to be partnered in poor-quality relationships compared to those who obtained abortions (Upadhyay et al, 2022), and more likely to experience enduring financial problems, including incurring unpaid debt, evictions, and bankruptcies (Miller et al, 2020). Moreover, research conducted post- Dobbs reveals that states with restricted abortion access or enacted bans have experienced a decrease in maternal care providers; an increase in maternal and infant mortality, particularly among women of color; greater racial disparities in health care; and higher death rates for women ages 15–44 years (Declercq et al, 2022).…”

Reproductive Justice as a Framework for Abortion Care

“…Reprinted from Contraception, their lives and children at risk. 22,23 They also found it challenging to fulfill their long-term goals, including pursuing education, establishing a career, and attaining financial stability. 24,25 Women forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term were more likely to experience financial instability, which negatively affected their ability to provide adequate care and resources for their children.…”

“…Being denied an abortion also has significant social impacts. Research has indicated that women who were denied abortions are more likely to remain in abusive relationships than those who received the procedure, potentially putting their lives and children at risk 22,23 . They also found it challenging to fulfill their long-term goals, including pursuing education, establishing a career, and attaining financial stability 24,25 .…”