A Strategic Initiative to Secure Access to Second-Trimester Abortion

Access to second-trimester abortion remains challenging for women in the U.S. Data from a 2005 study of abortion providers in the U.S., conducted by the Guttmacher Institute, show that the number of second-trimester abortion providers has continued to decline since 2000. Recent years have seen an increase in state regulations which target second-trimester providers, requiring unnecessary changes to facilities and clinical protocol. At the same time, opinion polls suggest that public support for second-trimester abortion continues to be low while support for restrictions remains high. Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) at the University of California, San Francisco has developed a national strategic plan for expanding access to and support for second-trimester abortion. To inform our initiative, we surveyed clinicians and advocates on the biggest issues facing second-trimester abortion providers and women seeking services in the second trimester, we conducted 22 interviews with key informants in the field and we conducted a comprehensive review of the scientific literature covering second-trimester abortion access, practice and regulation. Based on these data we have drafted a national initiative which addresses the service, training, legal, public, and advocacy activities needed to increase access to second-trimester abortion care. Our proposed presentation will provide a short summary of the findings from our investigation, outline the strategic initiative to secure access to second trimester abortion and consider the role of the public health community in working toward these objectives.