WHEN STATE POLICY CLASHES WITH OPINION: POST-DOBBS INCREASES IN SUPPORT FOR ABORTION AMONG OHIO WOMEN

Abstract

Objectives

The Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision granted states more authority in regulating abortion care. In the 12 weeks following Dobbs, Ohio enacted a six-week ban despite public support for abortion in the state. We assessed changes in abortion support post-Dobbs among women in Ohio, an abortion-restrictive state that recently passed a ballot initiative aimed at protecting access to care.

Methods

We used two independent, cross-sectional waves of a representative survey of adult reproductive age Ohio women to compare abortion attitudes before and after Dobbs. NORC collected this data from October 2018-June 2019 (pre-Dobbs) and September 2022-August 2023 (post-Dobbs). We assessed abortion attitudes using four measures: whether someone should be arrested for abortion, whether abortion should be available, whether abortion is acceptable, and pro-life/pro-choice identity. We created a scale combining these measures and calculated 95% confidence intervals comparing pre- and post-Dobbs results.

Results

All measures showed statistically significant increases in abortion support post-Dobbs. Comparing pre- and post-Dobbs results, 58% versus 77% felt abortion should be available, 68% versus 85% felt someone should not be arrested for abortion, 26% vs. 46% felt that abortion was acceptable in all circumstances, and 40% vs. 59% identified as pro-choice. From our combined scale, 25% vs. 43% of respondents were supportive across all four measures.

Conclusions

Women in Ohio, an abortion-restrictive state, have shown consistent support for abortion, which increased following Dobbs. These findings provide necessary context for the recent success of the November 2023 reproductive rights ballot initiative. They also underscore the important relationship between policy and opinion.