Pregnant Women's Reasons for and Experiences of Visiting Antiabortion Pregnancy Resource Centers

Abstract

CONTEXT The primary mission of pregnancy resource centers is to dissuade women from choosing abortion. Reproductive health and rights advocates have asserted that these centers interfere in abortion decision making. However, the reasons pregnant women go to such centers and what they experience while there have not been examined. METHODS Between June 2015 and June 2017, in‐depth, semistructured phone interviews were conducted with 21 pregnant women who had presented at prenatal care clinics in southern Louisiana and Baltimore, Maryland, and who had visited a pregnancy resource center. Topics covered in the interviews included reasons for visiting a center and the experience of the visit. Transcripts were analyzed first thematically and then using grounded theory. RESULTS Most of the women were low income and had not been considering abortion when they visited a pregnancy resource center. Respondents reported that they had gone to these centers for pregnancy‐related services, material goods and social support. They chose these centers because the resources were free, and they were largely satisfied with their experiences. Nonetheless, their receipt of services and goods was limited and often contingent on participation in the centers’ activities. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy resource centers play a role in meeting the acute material and social needs of low‐income pregnant women. However, the constraints on the resources the centers offer mean that this support cannot be part of a reliable system of care. Advocates and policymakers should take a nuanced approach to regulating these centers and consider the reasons women visit them, especially low‐income women.

Patient Experiences at California Crisis Pregnancy Centers: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Online Crowd-Sourced Reviews, 2010–2019

“…[22][23][24] Notably, free materials and disruption in healthcare coverage were a major motivator for CPC visits, suggesting that the needs of vulnerable patients are not fully addressed by public health infrastructure. 25 Furthermore, those who sought CPCs for Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medi-Cal Access Program applications highlight the need to clarify the "proof of pregnancy" requirement. Affordable and timely prenatal and postnatal resources such as Centers for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program Services and the Maternal and Infant Health Initiative are available to those in California, but may not be as well known.…”

“…Results reveal that socially vulnerable, including noninsured/underinsured, low-income, first-time, undocumented, and young parents turn to CPCs for assistance 22–24 . Notably, free materials and disruption in healthcare coverage were a major motivator for CPC visits, suggesting that the needs of vulnerable patients are not fully addressed by public health infrastructure 25 . Furthermore, those who sought CPCs for Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, and Medi-Cal Access Program applications highlight the need to clarify the “proof of pregnancy” requirement.…”

The Problems with Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Reviewing the Literature and Identifying New Directions for Future Research

“…Studies from Louisiana and Maryland report low prevalence of CPC attendance and that those who sought care at CPCs were looking for a supportive environment for their pregnancy or resources such as free ultrasound, clothes or diapers. 23 , 25 In contrast, a representative sample from Ohio reported a relatively high prevalence of CPC ever attendance, more frequent among those who were Black/non-Hispanic and low socioeconomic status. 15 Thus, more research is needed both on how clients choose to attend a CPC and the effects of that care, particularly given concerns that biased counseling may undermine reproductive autonomy.…”

Pregnancy outcomes after exposure to crisis pregnancy centers among an abortion-seeking sample recruited online

“…Those who visited earlier in their pregnancy may have had different motivations and experiences than those visiting at later gestations. As qualitative studies have explored [34], pregnant people have obtained material resources and emotional support at CPCs, which may have played a role in encouraging them to continue the pregnancy. People at later gestations may also be realizing that abortion is no longer a realistic option for them due to costs constraints and lack of geographic access to facilities that provide abortions after the first trimester and instead, may be seeking information and resources regarding pregnancy or other material goods, such as baby clothes and supplies [34,35].…”