65,000 Unheard Cries: The Consequences of Denying Abortion Rights in the USA
A recent analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine exposes the harrowing reality faced by nearly 65,000 rape victims in 14 US states with near-total abortion bans.
The study, conducted by researchers from Planned Parenthood, Resound Research for Reproductive Health, and various academic institutions; sheds light on the critical intersection of sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and the impact of restrictive abortion laws on survivors of sexual assault.
The study estimates that approximately 520,000 rapes have occurred in the time since abortion bans were enforced in these 14 states. Out of these, a staggering 64,565 pregnancies resulted, emphasising the acute need for accessible reproductive healthcare for survivors. Shockingly, despite these high numbers, only an average of 10 legal abortions are performed monthly across these states, leaving the vast majority of victims without a viable option.
A Closer Look at the States
Texas, with its complete abortion ban and a large population, emerges as a hotspot, accounting for up to 45% of the total pregnancies resulting from rape. Idaho, one of the five states with a rape exception under its abortion laws, still faces significant challenges, with an estimated 1,436 pregnancies resulting from rape in the 16 months since the law’s implementation.
The figures underscore a broader trend where rape exemptions are diminishing in favor among anti-abortion activists and politicians. Despite public opinion, with nearly 70% of adults supporting abortion in cases of rape, the study reveals a stark contrast between sentiment and the harsh realities on the ground.
“The large number of estimated rape-related pregnancies in abortion ban states compared with the 10 or fewer legal abortions per month occurring in each of those states indicates that persons who have been raped and become pregnant cannot access legal abortions in their home state, even in states with rape exceptions,” the researchers noted in their study.
Challenges Faced by Survivors
The study also highlights the challenges faced by survivors in obtaining the necessary care. Dr. Samuel Dickman, the lead author of the research and medical director of Planned Parenthood of Montana, emphasises the added burden on survivors who may know their assaulters and live with them, making it especially difficult to travel for abortion care.
Dr. Rachel Perry, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of California, Irvine, points out that victims of rape may take longer to recognise a pregnancy due to trauma, limiting their options for timely medication abortion.
The Human Toll
Beyond the statistics, the study emphasises the human toll of denying reproductive choices to survivors of sexual assault. The medical journal’s editors underscore the devastating consequences of restricting abortion access to rape survivors, stating, “Whether these survivors of rape had illegal abortions, received medication abortion through the mail, traveled to other states, or carried the child to birth is unknown.”
The analysis comes in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization by the US Supreme Court, overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing states to enforce abortion bans. The study adds to a growing body of evidence documenting the profound impact of restrictive abortion laws on women’s lives, health, and fertility.
The Urgent Need for Action
As the study raises awareness about the stigmatised issue, advocates for sexual and reproductive health rights are calling for urgent action. Dr. Sami Heywood, an obstetrician/gynecologist and fellow with the advocacy group Physicians for Reproductive Health, emphasises the ethical concerns surrounding the practice of reserving healthcare only for those who can prove a crime took place. She stresses that it is cruel to force survivors to navigate legal and logistical barriers that further harm them.
The findings of this study serve as a stark reminder of the immediate need for comprehensive and accessible reproductive healthcare, especially for survivors of sexual assault. The ongoing erosion of abortion rights poses a significant threat to the well-being and autonomy of individuals, calling for a reevaluation of policies to ensure that the most vulnerable among us are not left without the care they urgently need.
Source: CNN and The Guardian
Photo Credit: Jose Luis Magana/AFP/Getty Images
Photo Source: CNN
