Sania Hasan
Pronouns:
Research Mentor(s): Vanessa Dalton
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Obstetrics and Gynecology / Medicine
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 2 (10:00am – 10:50am)
Authors: Sania Hasan, Vanessa Dalton, Rieham Owda
Abstract
The issue of abortion legality has quickly captured the attention of the United States (US) with the increase in abortion regulations. With states having varying levels of restrictions on abortion, the effects of these restrictions on birthing people are becoming increasingly clear. This study analyzes the proportion of births reported as unwanted or untimed in states with different levels of restrictions, ultimately trying to find a correlation with strict abortion regulations and high levels of unwanted pregnancies.It was expected that the data would reveal a trend between states with stricter abortion regulations and a higher proportion of unintended births. We conducted a cross-sectional study using population-based surveillance data from the CDC’s Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey in 2020. Patients’ qualitative responses to a question on the survey were used to evaluate pregnancy intention, with pregnancies being considered as either unintended (undesired or mistimed) or intended. The responses were then transformed into quantitative percentages. A scale was used to evaluate state TRAP laws and characterize them as highly or less restrictive. Proportions of intended and unintended pregnancies were then compared to the level of restriction in the respective states. Using 2020 results, 53% of PRAMS participants resided in less restrictive states, and 47% in highly restrictive states. These results also uncovered the odds ratio, in which the odds of a birth following an undesired or mistimed pregnancy was higher in restricted states than unrestricted states. Our next analysis will compare levels of pregnancy intendedness in patients who reported having PMAD (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders). With high abortion restrictions, patients who carry unintended pregnancies to term are not only forced to undergo an experience they did not want, but they may also negatively affect the outcome of the child.
