Examining Post- Dobbs Changes in Abortion Use at 3 Southern Michigan Clinics, July 2021‒June 2023
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives. To examine changes in abortion service delivery for the years before (July 2021‒June 2022) and after Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health (July 2022‒June 2023) at 3 Planned Parenthood clinics in southern Michigan, when several states enacted laws further restricting abortion access, and Michigan became a destination for individuals in restrictive states. Methods. We used monthly abortion data from 3 Michigan clinics to calculate the mean number of monthly abortions and changes in proportions for gestation, method, and patient state of residence for the 2 time periods. Results. Mean monthly abortions increased from 358 before Dobbs to 575 after Dobbs. Simultaneously, out-of-state patients increased from 383 before Dobbs to 1145 after Dobbs and received a larger share of total abortions. Methods shifted slightly, with medication abortions decreasing from 58% to 53% and procedural abortions at less than 14 weeks increasing from 31% to 36%. Most out-of-state patients came from Indiana and Ohio. Conclusions. The increasing number of out-of-state patients and increased provision of procedural abortions represent both increased need among patients from restrictive states and adaptability among providers in protective states such as Michigan—underscoring changes in care amid the rapidly evolving abortion landscape in the United States. ( Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print November 20, 2025:e1–e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308305 )
Authors: Mikaela H. Smith, Caroline Sucher, Alison Norris, Vanessa K. Dalton, Sarah D. Compton
Institutions: University of Michigan, The Ohio State University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4416435533