Racial and demographic trends in abortion method selection in Minnesota among in-state patients at or under 11 weeks...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Health Equity
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Access to abortion care, including medication abortion, is crucial for reproductive autonomy.
• The expansion of telehealth medication abortion (TeleMAB) offers new avenues for care, particularly for those in remote areas.
• Understanding the demographics and utilization patterns of TeleMAB versus in-clinic abortion is essential for addressing potential inequities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess demographic and racial trends among patients utilizing telehealth medication abortion (TeleMAB) compared to in-clinic abortion.
• To identify how structural determinants may influence access inequities in abortion care.
• To analyze patient populations for abortions at 11 weeks gestation or less in Minnesota.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort analysis of electronic health records from Planned Parenthood North Central States.
• Inclusion of Minnesota abortion patients with pregnancies of 11 weeks gestation or less between 2021-2024.
• Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit models to report relative risk ratios.

Main Results:

• Out of 20,360 abortions, 7.6% were TeleMAB, while 92.5% were in-person (64.9% medication, 27.6% procedural).
• TeleMAB patients were more likely to be older, white, from rural areas, and have had a prior abortion.
• Black, Hispanic, multi-racial patients, and those with English as a primary language were more likely to receive in-clinic, particularly procedural, abortions.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth expansion enhances abortion access for rural populations but may not serve all impacted communities equally in Minnesota.
• Further investigation into structural barriers is necessary to ensure equitable access to preferred abortion modalities.
• Integrating telehealth and in-clinic care can support patient autonomy in reproductive healthcare decisions.