The Digester

A JAMA Network Open interview study of 33 people who traveled from states with abortion restrictions to Illinois found common monthlong delays, financial and logistical burdens, and calls for more information, funding, and stigma reduction.

Researchers interviewed 33 people who traveled from states with abortion restrictions or bans to Illinois for abortion care.
Participants waited, on average, one month between deciding to have an abortion and receiving care.
Delays were driven by travel logistics, limited local services, and difficulty finding accurate, timely information.
Many people reported financial strain, traveling alone, and leaving dependents behind to access care.
Authors recommend coupling policy changes with better public information, expanded charitable funding, and efforts to reduce abortion stigma.
The qualitative study is published in JAMA Network Open and was funded by Resources for Abortion Delivery, the Society of Family Planning Research Fund, the Milton Fund at Harvard, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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