Reasons for Choosing Telehealth Abortion Based on Food Insecurity Status: United States, 2021-2022
Courtney E Williams1, Andréa Becker1, Leah R Koenig1
1Courtney E. Williams is with the Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. Andréa Becker is with the Department of Sociology, Hunter College, City University of New York, NY. Leah R. Koenig was with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH), Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco at the time of this study. Lisa Peters and Ushma D. Upadhyay are with ANSIRH, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.
Food insecurity significantly influences choices for telehealth abortion. Individuals facing food insecurity are more likely to select telehealth due to cost, logistical challenges, and concerns about in-person care.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Health Services Research
- Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
Background:
- Telehealth abortion offers a remote option for medication abortion care.
- Understanding patient motivations for choosing telehealth is crucial for equitable access.
- Food insecurity presents unique barriers to healthcare access and decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how food insecurity status affects the reasons individuals choose telehealth abortion.
- To identify specific factors driving telehealth abortion adoption among food-insecure populations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of survey data from the California Home Abortion by Telehealth (CHAT) Study (2021-2022).
- Inclusion of 1726 participants receiving medication abortion via virtual clinics.
- Multivariable logistic regression used to compare reasons for telehealth abortion between food-insecure and food-secure groups.
Main Results:
- Food-insecure individuals were more likely to choose telehealth abortion due to lower cost.
- Challenges with transportation and childcare were more significant reasons for food-insecure individuals.
- Concerns about fear, judgment, and discrimination at in-person clinics were higher among food-insecure participants.
Conclusions:
- Food insecurity is a key factor influencing reproductive health decisions, including abortion care preferences.
- Telehealth abortion's cost-effectiveness makes it a potentially vital option for economically constrained individuals.
- Addressing socioeconomic barriers is essential for improving access to abortion services.
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