Texas’ tighter laws severely limit number of abortions performed

[TexasTowelie]

Preliminary results of a study out this week has shown a 10 to 15 percent decrease in the number of abortions performed in Texas after the state passed laws to make the requirements for women seeking the procedure stricter.

The laws, which include a 24-hour waiting period and mandatory ultrasounds, were made in 2011. Lawmakers argued they would allow women to make more informed decisions about abortion. The study’s preliminary results show the requirements have reduced the number of abortions by limiting women’s access, not by changing women’s minds about having the procedure.

Conducted by researchers at Ibis, the University of Texas and the University of Alabama, the study was conducted by looking at data from the state’s three largest abortion clinics, as well as surveys of other abortion clinics and 300 women across the state. You can read more in depth about the study at HoustonChronicle.com, but first a brief excerpt:

According to the study, women had to wait on average 3.7 days between their initial consultations with a doctor and their abortions – nearly four times the period required by law – because of difficulties with clinic scheduling.

For the two doctor visits, they traveled an average of 84 miles round-trip and typically incurred additional costs of about $146 for travel expenses, child care and lost wages, the research suggests.

And despite the waiting period, 89 percent indicated they were as sure about their decision to have an abortion before their initial consultation as they were afterward, the study found.

More at http://blog.chron.com/momhouston/2013/03/this-week-in-abortion-news-texas%E2%80%99-tighter-laws-severely-limit-number-of-abortions-performed/ .

[Ilsa]

1. The anti-choicers know exactly

what they are doing: limiting access and making it as difficult and expensive as possible to have a legal medical procedure.