Giving Compass' Take:
- Abortion bans are causing an increasing amount of OB-GYNs to leave the field, causing fewer opportunities for domestic abuse screenings.
- While there is limited data on this topic, doctors are concerned that these patients are less likely to be appropriately screened or receive adequate care.
- Read about the link between reproductive justice and gender justice.
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As more abortion bans have gone into effect across the country, it has become far more difficult to perform a standard element of gynecological care: screening patients for domestic abuse.
Research shows that OB-GYNs are often the first or only doctors to learn if a patient is facing intimate partner violence. While women of all ages experience intimate partner violence, it is most prevalent among women of reproductive age, the people most likely to see an OB-GYN. Meanwhile, abortion bans have contributed to reproductive health care providers leaving states, retiring early or declining to practice where the procedure is restricted.
There is little data on the trend, but doctors and experts agree that as a result, people experiencing domestic violence are less likely to be appropriately screened — let alone connected to resources or support.
Read the full article about abortion bans' impact on domestic violence by Jennifer Gerson and Shefali Luthra at The19th.