RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The Impact of a 72-hour Waiting Period on Women's Access to Abortion Care at a Hospital-Based Clinic in North Carolina
JF North Carolina Medical Journal
JO N C Med J
FD North Carolina Institute of Medicine
SP 205
OP 209
DO 10.18043/ncm.79.4.205
VO 79
IS 4
A1 Morse, Jessica E.
A1 Charm, Samantha
A1 Bryant, Amy
A1 Ramesh, Shanthi
A1 Krashin, Janie
A1 Stuart, Gretchen S.
YR 2018
UL http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/content/79/4/205.abstract
AB BACKGROUND In 2015, North Carolina became the 5th state to pass legislation requiring women to undergo state-mandated counseling 72 hours prior to abortion. Whether this legislation has changed the timing of abortion decision-making or receipt of care is not known.METHODS This is a cross-sectional study using anonymous survey data from women presenting for abortion at a hospital-based abortion clinic in North Carolina. Data were collected for 8 weeks immediately before and after implementation of the new waiting period.RESULTS 26/48 (54%) of eligible patients participated. More than half (56%) of women made their abortion decision relatively quickly (less than or equal to 3 days), but had a median time-to-care of almost a week.LIMITATIONS This small study is the 1st recent evaluation of abortion decision-making and receipt of care immediately before and after implementation of a 72-hour waiting period in a Southern state. Only women presenting for care at a single hospital-based clinic were surveyed. Data were self-reported.CONCLUSION In our clinical setting, most women decided to have an abortion quickly but still waited 10-15 days before receiving care. Extended waiting periods provide no medical benefits and the potential for harm and delay of care remains.