Findings from the Choices about Abortion CaRE Options (CARE) Study: A Discrete-Choice Experiment

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Health Services Research
• Behavioral Economics

Background:

• Understanding patient preferences is crucial for optimizing abortion care delivery.
• Heterogeneity in patient priorities can influence healthcare choices and satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify tradeoffs individuals accept across abortion care attributes.
• To identify distinct preference patterns among abortion seekers.
• To examine associations between preferences and respondent characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Discrete-choice experiment design informed by qualitative interviews.
• Choice questions presented abortion care options varying by type, wait time, travel, documentation, and cost.
• Analysis using random-parameters logit and latent-class analysis on data from 500 respondents.

Main Results:

• Three distinct preference patterns emerged: prioritizing expediency/privacy, sensitivity to cost, and a non-informative class.
• A majority (80.2%) selected an abortion care option.
• Respondent characteristics were not significantly associated with identified preference classes.

Conclusions:

• Abortion seekers exhibit varied priorities, with some prioritizing speed and privacy, while others focus on cost.
• Acknowledging preference heterogeneity can enhance patient-centered abortion care.
• Strategies addressing wait times and costs are vital for meeting diverse patient needs.