Abortion Research
Learn about recent research on abortion below or explore our past research and publications here.
MAPT-IL: Mapping Abortion Patient navigation and Travel to Illinois
Using data from our collaborators at the Chicago Abortion Fund from before and after Dobbs, we are exploring changes in distances traveled, costs, and practical supports needed to access abortion.
FINDINGS
Changes in distance traveled among Chicago Abortion Fund callers from 2020-2023
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Research on Pharmacist Dispensing of Mifepristone
We aimed to assess pharmacists from Illinois knowledge about mifepristone, comfort with dispensing mifepristone, and understand resources needed to dispense mifepristone when permitted to do so by law.
FINDINGS
Exploring consumer preferences For pharmacy provision of mifepristone in the Human-centered design discovery phase
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pharmacists’ experiences dispensing misoprostol and readiness to dispense mifepristone
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Moral Distress Among Clinicians
A recent national survey analyzed how evolving policy environments are impacting the moral distress levels of abortion-providing clinicians.
FINDINGS
State Abortion Policy and Moral Distress Among Clinicians Providing Abortion After the Dobbs Decision
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Homecoming: Applying for Residency Post-Dobbs
We interviewed medical students interested in providing abortion and/or gender-affirming care about their residency application decision-making, focusing on those who identify as Southerners.
TRAVIL: Traveling to Illinois for Abortion Care
We conducted in-depth interviews to better understand the experiences of people traveling to Illinois from out of state to receive abortion care. We aim to understand the journeys and priorities of individuals traveling out-of-state to inform support for patient navigation and shared decision-making.
NATAL
Researchers are exploring the experiences of people seeking specialized care related to a diagnosis of congenital anomalies during pregnancy. The goal of the study is to help create new decisional tools and aids for providers counseling patients.
MAI Choice: Understanding the Impact of Removing Cost Barriers on Early Abortion Access
Following state policies requiring public and private insurance coverage for abortion care, we explored the experiences of people using their insurance when seeking abortion, including effects on method preference and selection.
FINDINGS
Patient experiences using public and private insurance coverage for abortion in IL
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‘I knew which one I wanted’: Interviews with Illinois patients to explore abortion method decision-making after insurance expansion
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Abortion in Religious Health Settings
We have explored counseling and provision of abortion care, including related to pregnancy complications, in religiously-affiliated health care settings.
FINDINGS
“My Hands are Tied”: Abortion Restrictions and Providers’ Experiences in Religious and Nonreligious Health Care Systems
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HB40 Implementation Research
We explored the perspectives and experiences of clinicians, clinic administrators, advocates and stakeholders before and after state Medicaid funding of abortion in Illinois, with lessons for implementation. We also analyzed service delivery data from abortion clinics in Illinois between 2017-2020 to understand shifts in service patterns.
FINDINGS
Lessons Learned: Illinois providers’ perspectives on implementation of Medicaid coverage for abortion
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Provide and community stakeholder perspectives of expanding Medicaid coverage of abortion in Illinois
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