Contraceptive care post-Dobbs: A qualitative study of clinic staff perspectives

Abstract

Access to contraception is an essential component of reproductive autonomy. Abortion restrictions such as those introduced in some states following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision have spillover effects on broader sexual and reproductive health service provision, such as contraceptive services. We conducted 36 in-depth interviews with key staff at publicly supported clinics providing contraceptive services in the United States, examining their experiences of changes in the delivery of family planning services in states where abortion policies are severely restrictive and states where they are less restrictive or protective. We found that publicly supported family planning clinics have experienced some limited impacts on contraceptive care and contraceptive demand due to the Dobbs decision and resultant abortion bans. Clinics in both restrictive and less restrictive/protective states report continuing to provide high-quality contraceptive care post-Dobbs, but they have also changed certain contraceptive counseling practices, grappled with changes in contraceptive demand, and taken steps to adjust their clinic workflows to mitigate the effects of Dobbs. Abortion restrictions impact the provision of contraceptive services. More research is needed to continue to document the spillover effects of abortion restrictions, along with the impact of restrictions on the quality of contraceptive care.