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Abortion access in America continues to evolve, with recent data showing a slight increase in procedures despite widespread restrictions in Republican-led states. The landscape has transformed significantly since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision nullified Roe v. Wade two and a half years ago.
“Abortion bans don’t actually prevent abortions from happening,” explained Ushma Upadhyay, a public health social scientist at the University of California San Francisco.
BREAKING REPORT: Abortions in the United States have RISEN since the overturning of Roe [vs] Wade.. -ABC
NOW WHAT ARE THEY GONNA RUN ON? pic.twitter.com/62fuR1L5hN
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) August 8, 2024
The statistics reveal that monthly abortion rates have actually increased compared to pre-Dobbs levels, though procedures in restrictive states have nearly vanished. Medication abortions now represent approximately two-thirds of all procedures, up from about half before the ruling, according to Guttmacher Institute research.
Access barriers disproportionately affect low-income, minority, and immigrant women. Many now rely on interstate travel or telemedicine for abortion care, with roughly one in ten procedures involving remotely prescribed medication in ban-enforcing states by mid-2024.
Florida’s recent six-week ban implementation has drastically altered regional access patterns, with procedures declining 30% in May and 35% in June compared to early 2024 averages. The average driving distance to North Carolina, the nearest state offering 12-week access, exceeds nine hours, based on data from Middlebury College economist Caitlin Myers.
Dear democrats, here is your 24 week living , breathing “clump of cells”
(legal to abort in some states)
Abortion is murder. pic.twitter.com/Ee2XaZXga5
— 🌷 LIZZIE🌷 (@farmingandJesus) February 24, 2024
The provider landscape has shifted minimally, decreasing from 799 to 792 facilities between May 2022 and November 2024. However, emergency care complications have emerged as a critical concern. Federal records indicate over 100 pregnant women faced dangerous delays or denials of emergency care since 2022.
“It is increasingly less safe to be pregnant and seeking emergency care in an emergency department,” stated Dara Kass, an emergency medicine doctor and former U.S. Health and Human Services official.
Recent ballot initiatives demonstrate strong public support for reproductive rights, with voters approving 14 out of 18 measures since Roe’s reversal. AP VoteCast data indicates over three-fifths of 2024 voters favor legal abortion in most or all circumstances, showing increased support compared to 2020.
