Adolescent and Young Adult Knowledge of Abortion and Emergency Contraceptive Rights Post-Dobbs

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Health
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision altered the landscape of abortion access in the United States.
• Adolescents and young adults (AYA) may have unique challenges in accessing and understanding reproductive health information, particularly in states with evolving legal protections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge and perceptions of abortion and emergency contraception (EC) among adolescents and young adults (AYA).
• To evaluate understanding of abortion laws and EC in a state with protected abortion access post-Dobbs decision.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was administered to 244 patients aged 14-24 at a Title X-supported family planning clinic in Colorado.
• The 50-item anonymous survey assessed knowledge of abortion/EC laws, beliefs about abortion myths, and sociodemographic factors.
• Knowledge scores for abortion and EC were categorized as high (≥50% correct) or low (<50% correct).

Main Results:

• While 83.3% knew of the Dobbs decision, 64.6% were unaware of Colorado's abortion law status.
• Only 45% of AYA demonstrated high knowledge of abortion laws, with notable gaps in understanding parental consent and gestational limits.
• Emergency contraception (EC) knowledge was higher (76% high knowledge), yet 58.8% held misconceptions about EC's ability to end an early pregnancy.

Conclusions:

• Significant gaps in abortion law knowledge and persistent misconceptions exist among AYA in Colorado, potentially delaying care.
• Despite higher EC knowledge, misunderstandings highlight a need for improved reproductive health literacy.
• Targeted educational initiatives are crucial to provide AYA with accurate, state-specific reproductive health information.