WVXU: How many fewer abortions were performed after the overturning of Roe v. Wade?

University of Cincinnati abortion access researcher Danielle Bessett was a guest speaker on Cincinnati Edition, hosted by Lucy May.

Bessett is an associate professor of sociology and faculty affiliate of both UC’s Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and the Medical Scientist Training Program and member of the Ohio Policy Evaluation Network.

In the podcast Bessett, and USA Today Network Ohio Bureau reporter Jesse Balmert,  discuss the national trends regarding abortion access, which both say has garnered confusion since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

According to recent data by #WeCount, Bessett says there are increases in abortions where abortions are permitted and losses in states where they are not, but “more than 25,000 people have not been able to receive abortion care,” since Dobbs, adding “We really need better data, especially from the federal government.”

Abortion access varies dramatically depending on which state you live in, and providers are leery of providing abortion care, even when it is safer to terminate the pregnancy than it is to carry the pregnancy to term, says Bessett; and delays in care result when the provider must confer with administrators and attorneys before performing an abortion.

“When you are confused you tend to err on the side of protecting your license.”

Abortion bans, both experts say, have a slew of secondary effects, citing cases now in litigation.

Listen to the interview

Featured image at top courtesy of Unsplash/Martha Dominguez