The harassment of U.S. abortion providers

In 1985, 47 percent of abortion providers experienced antiabortion harassment. The approximately 1,250 facilities that were affected served 83 percent of all abortion patients. Nonhospital facilities performing 400 or more abortions a year were the most likely targets of antiabortion activity; 88 percent reported at least one type of harassment during the year. Picketing occurred at 80 percent of these facilities. Only six percent experienced picketing alone; the average facility was subjected to five different types of activity. Seventy-three percent of the facilities were the target of at least one illegal activity. A number of problems that made abortions more difficult or costly to provide were significantly related to the occurrence of antiabortion activity: increased expenditures for security and for legal services, loss of fire and casualty insurance, new licensing requirements and problems hiring staff. However, harassment did not appear to have affected the average number of abortions performed at large nonhospital facilities or the fee charged.