Women's Health Commons^™

Barriers To Medication Abortion Among Massachusetts’ Public University Students: Medication Abortion Barriers, Carrie N. Baker, Julia Mathis

Study of Women and Gender: Faculty Publications

Objective

Proposed legislation in Massachusetts would require public university health centers to provide medication abortion services on campus. This study assesses need for these services by investigating current travel time, costs, wait times and insurance acceptance at off-campus, abortion-providing facilities nearest to public universities in Massachusetts.

Study Design

This investigation projected the total number of medication abortions of students at 13 Massachusetts public universities based on campus enrollment figures and age- and state-adjusted medication abortion rates in the state. Using a cross-sectional study design, the research calculated the distance and public transit time from campuses to the nearest abortion-providing facilities. …