The health impact of restricting public funds for abortion. October 10, 1977--June 10, 1978

Abstract

The Center for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia implemented an eight-month prospective surveillance system in 24 hospitals distributed among states with and without public funding for abortion. Out of 3,157 visits for abortion-related complications, only 10 women gave a history of non-physician or self-induced abortion and none were Medicaid recipients. The small number of hospitals located in non-funded states and the smaller numbers of women served in these hospitals than in the funded states limited the power of out study. Women living along the Texas-Mexico border appeared more likely to have complications after illegal abortions than women from other areas of the country.

PIP: The Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, conducted a survey to determine the effect of Medicaid funds being restricted for abortion. 3,157 abortion-related complications were reported from 24 institutions in 14 states between October, 1977-June, 1978. Out of these visits only 10 women gave a history of nonphysician or selfinduced abortion. None were Medicaid recipients. The scope of the study was limited by the small number of hospitals located in nonfunded states and the smaller numbers of women served in these hospitals than in the funded states. In nonfunded states Medicaid-eligible women received legally induced abortions at a later gestational age (11.7 weeks vs. 11 weeks). More complications after illegal abortion were reported for women living along the Texas-Mexico border than any other area. 27% of all women received Medicaid. Women from nonfunded states were slightly younger, more likely to be white, and had a greater percentage of complications.