Mental Health Implications of Abortion Restrictions for Historically Marginalized Populations
Lucy Ogbu-Nwobodo, Ruth S. Shim, Sarah Y. Vinson, Elizabeth Fitelson, M. Antonia Biggs, Monica R. McLemore, Marilyn D. Thomas, Micaela Godzich, Christina Mangurian
Abstract
(N Engl J Med. 2022;387:1613–1617) \n\n With the dismantling of nationwide legal abortion in the United States by the Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, it is expected that there are far-reaching effects that will disproportionately affect historically marginalized populations. Access to equitable health care is met with many barriers for these groups, which include racial and sexual minorities, and people with mental health conditions, substance abuse disorders and trauma. Disparity in pregnancy outcomes currently occur in these groups and the Dobbs decision is expected to exacerbate this.