Abortion access for U.S. active-duty servicewomen: A scoping review

U.S. active-duty servicewomen experience barriers to abortion care that civilian women do not experience due to military regulations and federal law. This scoping review aims to address this gap in knowledge by evaluating the research in this area.

A scoping review protocol based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines was used to search PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL for peer-reviewed publications and gray literature. Inclusion criteria included (1) abortion access for active-duty servicewomen; (2) knowledge, attitudes, or beliefs regarding abortion for active-duty servicewomen; or (3) the prevalence of abortion among active-duty servicewomen. Quality appraisal was completed according to Let Evidence Guide Every New Decision criteria.

The search yielded 811 articles, of which 15 met the criteria for inclusion in this review. Nine were empirical research articles, and six were nonempirical. Overall, 66% (n = 10) had abortion coverage or access as the primary outcome of interest; 73% (n = 11) cited relevant legislation; 80% (n = 12) made policy recommendations; and 40% (n = 6) made future research recommendations. Three themes emerged (1) prevalence estimates, (2) barriers to care, and (3) lack of knowledge and training on military abortion policies.

More studies with abortion coverage and access for active-duty servicewomen as the primary outcome of interest should be conducted to better understand the scope of the issue and the impact on military readiness and to inform policy makers and future interventions to mitigate barriers to care.