OBJECTIVES:

Maternal health is increasingly at risk due to pregnancy complications, access to abortion care, contraceptives, and healthcare disparity. Abortion bans/restrictions in US states have caused concerns about the future of maternal health. West Virginia (WV), being the third most rural state, has recently banned abortion. The ban in WV may have significant consequences, especially for women in medically-underserved and low-income communities. In WV, access to optimal medical care is further impeded by low health literacy, lack of broadband access, transportation barriers, and mountainous terrain. Our study aimed to explore the perception of women on the abortion law in WV and understand the policy’s impact.

METHODS:

A mixed-methods design involving a brief survey and focus group interview (n=15) examined the perceptions on the abortion bill in WV. Survey included questions on demographics, general distress, views on abortion, the bill (closed and open-ended questions), and interest in participating in a focus group. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the survey data. Open ended survey questions and qualitative data from focus groups were analyzed using content analysis.

RESULTS:

Participants (n=180) were predominantly female (89%), white (90%), and unmarried (61%). Participants expressed experiencing moderate (39%) to high distress (23%). Some supported the bill (29%) whereas most viewed it too restrictive (71%). Abortion was viewed as an individual’s choice (71%) and participants felt that reproductive rights should not be governed by religion or politics (8%). On the contrary, some participants were against abortion in all cases (4%) and stated that the unborn child has a right to live (13%). Participants expressed that the qualifications of the bill to fit into the legal abortion were limited (26%) and the bill does not account for emotional damage (11%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Evidence from the current study will be helpful in providing data to support reproductive rights policies in underserved areas of WV.