Sociodemographic and Service Use Characteristics of Abortion Fund Cases from Six States in the US Southeast

Abortion funds are key actors in mitigating barriers to abortion access, particularly in contexts where state-level abortion access restrictions are concentrated. Using 2017-2019 case management data from a regional abortion fund in the southeastern U.S., we described the sociodemographic and service use characteristics of cases overall (n = 9585) and stratified by state of residence (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Overall, cases represented people seeking abortion fund assistance who predominately identified as non-Hispanic Black (81%), 18-34 years of age (84%), publicly or uninsured (87%), having completed a high school degree or some college (70%), having one or more children (77%), and as Christian (58%). Most cases involved an in-state clinic (81%), clinic travel distance under 50 miles (63%), surgical abortion (66%), and pregnancy under 13 weeks' gestation (73%), with variation across states. The median abortion fund contribution pledge was $75 (interquartile range (IQR): 60-100), supplementing median caller contributions of $200 (IQR: 40-300). These data provide a unique snapshot of a population navigating disproportionate, intersecting barriers to abortion access, and abortion fund capacity for social care and science. Findings can inform abortion fund development, data quality improvement efforts, as well as reproductive health, rights and justice advocacy, policy, and research.

Automated summary

Abortion funds play a crucial role in reducing barriers to abortion access, especially in areas with state-level restrictions. This study examined the characteristics and service usage of individuals seeking abortion fund assistance in the southeastern U.S., finding that the majority were non-Hispanic Black, aged 18-34, publicly or uninsured, with a high school or some college education, and one or more children. The data showed that most cases involved in-state clinics and surgical abortions, with the majority of pregnancies being less than 13 weeks.