Access to choice: Examining differences between adolescent and adult abortion fund service recipients

The results of a study examining differences between U.S. adolescent and adult abortion fund service recipients are presented in this paper. Using existing case data from 2010 to 2015 from the National Network of Abortion Funds (N = 3,288), a secondary data analysis was conducted to determine whether or not the experiences of adolescent (n = 481) and adult abortion patients (n = 2,807) who received financial assistance to help pay for an abortion differed. Fisher's exact tests examined differences in dichotomous variables, and regression examined differences in procedural costs, patient resources and expected travel distances to obtain an abortion. Results show that a greater proportion of adolescents in this data set identified as African American, and that adolescents were more likely to report seeking an abortion due to lack of contraception, and rape, while adult patients were more likely to be seeking an abortion due to contraceptive failure and partner violence. Results are discussed using a trauma-informed framework.