The Quickie: Data Shows Decrease in Abortion Care Since Overturning of Roe
For Immediate Release: Oct. 31, 2022
Welcome to “The Quickie” — Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s daily tipsheet on the top health care & reproductive rights stories of the day. You can read “The Quickie'' online here.
In today’s Quickie: Data shows decrease in abortion care since Roe overturn, the scary agenda on the ballot this November, AZ doctor speaks out on devastating consequences of abortion bans, PP is a finalist for a Shorty Award, and PPAF hosts a brunch in support of Cheri Beasly! Happy Halloween!
DATA SHOWS DECREASE IN ABORTION CARE SINCE OVERTURNING OF ROE: Today, the national #WeCount Project released new data that shows a pronounced decrease in abortion care nationwide following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. In the two months following the decision, abortion bans and restrictions have put abortion access out of reach for tens of thousands.
- Since the Dobbs decision, in states with bans or severe restrictions, there were 7,870 fewer abortions in July and 8,040 fewer in August, for a cumulative total of 15,910 fewer people who had abortions in those states.
- This change represents a decrease of 95% in the number of abortions in states where abortion was banned or severely restricted, comparing April and August 2022.
- The estimated number of abortions provided by a clinician decreased from 85,020 abortions in April 2022, before the decision, to 79,620 abortions in August 2022. This change represents a decrease of 6% in the number of abortions nationally, comparing April and August 2022.
- Since the Dobbs decision, there were 5,270 fewer abortions in July and 5,400 fewer in August, for a cumulative total of 10,670 fewer people who had abortions in those months.
These findings confirm what we already knew: that banning abortion does not stop people from needing abortion care. It forces them to travel long distances for care, seek abortion outside of the health care system entirely, or continue an unwanted pregnancy.
For the full findings, read the entire report here.
THE SCARY AGENDA ON THE BALLOT THIS ELECTION: This Halloween, Planned Parenthood Votes (PPV) is reminding voters what’s scarier than all the ghosts, goblins, and demons combined: a future where anti-abortion candidates who want to control your bodies and freedom are in charge. A new video from PPV features clips of anti-abortion candidates explaining in their own words that they want to to take away the freedom to make your own health care decisions, including Herschel Walker (GA Senate), Tim Michels (WI Governor), Mehmet Oz (PA Senate), Marco Rubio (FL Senate), Doug Mastriano (PA Governor), and Don Bolduc (NH Senate).
Watch the video here.
ARIZONA DOCTOR SPEAKS OUT ON DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF ABORTION BANS: Yesterday morning, Dr. Jill Gibson, Medical Director for Planned Parenthood Arizona, spoke with Ali Velshi on MSNBC about the importance of continuing to fight for reproductive rights in Arizona and the devastating effects of the state’s abortion bans on her patients. On Friday, the Arizona Attorney General announced that Arizona’s 1864 near-total abortion ban will be tabled until next year, providing some relief to Arizonans to receive abortion care up until 15 weeks. Dr. Gibson shared the difficulties of providing care in a state with two active abortion laws that conflicted with one another and the hardships patients who’ve traveled out of the state to receive care faced as well. On the question of what does the future hold for abortion given the upcoming midterm elections, Dr. Gibson said, “These politicians have absolutely no medical training…. They do not deserve to have any voice within decisions that need to be made between a patient and their provider.”
Watch the full MSNBC segment here.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD SELECTED AS FINALIST IN SHORTY IMPACT AWARDS: Planned Parenthood has been selected as a finalist for the 7th annual Shorty Impact Awards for our work on Be Seen TONE and Bans Off Our Bodies. The Shorty Impact Awards is an international awards program dedicated to celebrating purpose-driven work from brands, agencies and nonprofits that make meaningful social change.
Planned Parenthood is a finalist in two categories: best use of a podcast for Be Seen TONE, and best social movement campaign for Bans Off Our Bodies. As lawmakers launch an unprecedented attack on our bodies and rights, these platforms have each respectively met this moment by providing self-care tools and galvanizing supporters to fight for abortion access. TONE was designed as a digital safe space for Black women, Latinas, and nonbinary people to find comfort through reflections on life and shifting societal norms and expectations. Bans Off Our Bodies has become an anthem to fight oppression, resonating with people across the country, from artists, to activists, to corporate leaders.
The winners will be announced in-person at the Shorty Impact Awards celebration on November 16, 2022 in Los Angeles. You can vote for Planned Parenthood in both categories between now and then here and here.
ICYMI: CHERI BEASLEY, GOV. COOPER, REP. ROSS JOIN PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND MEMBERS AT BRUNCH WITH BEASLEY EVENT IN NORTH CAROLINA: On Saturday, nearly 150 Planned Parenthood Action Fund members joined together in North Carolina in support of reproductive rights, along with special guests Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson, U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley, Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Governor Roy Cooper, Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic president and CEO Jenny Black, and others. Throughout the event, the speakers underscored what is at stake in this election for North Carolinians and why voters must elect reproductive rights champions at all levels of government.
Cheri Beasley speaks to Action Fund members on Saturday.
Read more here.