CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE OF ABORTION LEGALITY FOLLOWING DOBBS

Abstract

Objectives

We analyzed two independent waves of a population-representative survey of adult, reproductive-age women in Ohio to assess beliefs about legality of abortion and 11 other reproductive health practices in the state. Abortion was legal in Ohio until 22 weeks of gestation during both waves; however, during a brief period between waves, abortion was restricted to about 6 weeks of gestation.

Methods

We used logistic regression to compare the prevalence of believing abortion is illegal in Ohio pre-Dobbs (October 2018–June 2019; n=2,516) vs. post-Dobbs (September 2022–August 2023; n=2,421). We also measured beliefs about legality of 11 other practices post-Dobbs and identified correlates of holding these beliefs.

Results

Higher fractions of women believed that abortion was illegal in 2022-2023 compared to 2018-2019 (40.5% versus 10.1%, respectively; p<0.001). At both times, many reported not knowing the legal status (28.7% and 26.5%, respectively). Similarly, substantial percentages of women in 2022-2023 reported not knowing the legality of practices such as using assisted reproductive technology (17.3%), traveling out of state to obtain an abortion (44.3%), obtaining medical care during or after miscarriage (21.3%), or receiving care for ectopic pregnancy (27.7%). Women with higher socioeconomic status had higher odds of knowing abortion was legal in Ohio post-Dobbs.

Conclusions

Despite being legal, 40.5% of adult, reproductive-age women in Ohio in 2022-2023 believed abortion was illegal in the state, a large increase from pre-Dobbs. Rapid changes in state-level abortion laws following Dobbs could have caused confusion about the legality of abortion and introduced concerns about the legality of other reproductive health practices.