Several states with abortion bans reported zero or very few abortions in 2023, sparking controversy and concerns about the politicization of vital statistics. Medical professionals dispute these claims, citing patients who have sought abortion care despite the bans.
In Arkansas, state health officials announced a stunning statistic for 2023: The total number of abortions in the state, where some 1.5 million women live, was zero.And in Idaho, home to abortion battles that have recently made their way to the US Supreme Court, the official number of recorded abortions was just five.
For some data scientists, these statistics also suggest a troubling trend: the potential politicization of vital statistics. Anti-abortion politicians and activists have cited these statistics to bolster their claims that their decades-long crusade to end abortion is a success. “Women are still seeking out abortions in Arkansas, whether it’s illegally or going out of state for illegal abortion,” Mimms toldThe South Dakota Department of Health “compiles information it receives from health care organizations around the state and reports it accordingly,” Tia Kafka, its marketing and outreach director, said in an email responding to questions about the statistics.
Practitioners find themselves working in a culture of confusion and fear,which could contribute to a hesitancy to report abortions — despite some state efforts to make clear when abortion is allowed.The procedure is legal in South Dakota only when a pregnant woman is facing death. Magstadt said doctors should use “reasonable medical judgment” and “document their thought process.
In South Dakota, clinic staff members were required to report the weight of the contents of the uterus, including the woman’s blood, a requirement that had no medical purpose and had the effect of exaggerating the weight of pregnancy tissue, said Floren, who worked at a clinic that provided abortion care before the state’s ban.
At least six states have enacted what are called “shield laws” to protect providers who send pills to patients in states with abortion bans. That includes New York, where Linda Prine, a family physician employed by Aid Access, prescribes and sends abortion pills to patients across the country.
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