Public perceptions of abortion complications

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health Communication
• Medical Misinformation

Background:

• Misinformation shapes public perception of abortion risks, despite established safety of medical and aspiration abortion procedures.
• There is a lack of detailed understanding regarding specific health risks the public associates with abortion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and describe public perception of both short-term and long-term health risks associated with abortion.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of 1057 US residents was conducted using Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk).
• Participants estimated the incidence of 9 short-term and 15 long-term abortion complications.
• Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with inaccurate risk perceptions.

Main Results:

• Participants consistently overestimated the incidence of all listed complications compared to known rates.
• Over 40% perceived infection and bleeding risks as occasional/frequent; over 60% perceived depression/anxiety risks similarly.
• Nearly a quarter believed death occurs occasionally/frequently, and 79% linked abortion to breast cancer.

Conclusions:

• The public significantly overestimates the risks associated with abortion.
• Findings can inform targeted public health initiatives to disseminate accurate information on abortion safety.