Authors: Lauren Howell
Mentors: Joshua Price
Insitution: Southern Utah University
This paper empirically assesses the relationship between state abortion policies and birth control consumption per state in the United States. The intention is not to advocate for or against abortion, but to explore how abortion policy influences the usage of contraceptives per state. The surveillance of contraceptive use holds paramount importance in preventing unintended pregnancies, with 95% of these occurrences attributed to inconsistent or incorrect contraceptive use or the absence of any method. Understanding how behaviors and contraceptive practices change over time in response to state policy alterations is crucial for evaluating the health implications of healthcare access regulations.
Contraception stands among the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, significantly reducing maternal mortality, benefiting pregnancy spacing for both maternal and child health, enhancing female participation in the workforce, and fostering women’s self-sufficiency. Utilizing data from sources such as the American Community Survey (ACS), the Abortion Patient Survey (APS), the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), and the Natality Detail File, this study delves into a comprehensive analysis of contraceptive use in relation to state abortion policy.
Through statistical analysis using Stata 18 and ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression, this research aims to build on prior studies and ascertain the relationship between strict state abortion laws and birth control consumption. It hypothesizes that restrictive policies, such as increasing the cost and difficulty of accessing abortion, might incentivize women to adopt more effective contraceptive methods to avert the consequences of unintended pregnancies. The study also references prior research that suggests changes in contraceptive use, notably an increased reliance on long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), and how it has contributed to a decline in abortion rates, particularly among adolescents.
The results of this study hold the potential to advocate for an increased educational focus on safe sex practices and to increase the accessibility of family planning resources based on state policies. It aims to shed light on the potential impact of restrictive abortion laws on birth control consumption and encourages informed policy decisions for public health and family planning.