Objective
The aim of this study is to examine how situational abortion attitudes differ when including additional context related to the gestational age of the pregnancy.
Method
Ordinary Least Squares Regression models predicting abortion attitudes across four different sets of abortion attitude questions, using data collected from an online panel weighted to match U.S. benchmarks.
Results
Later gestational ages are associated with less support for abortion. Although there is some variation in the amount that support decreases across different socio‐demographic groups, the predictors of abortion attitudes remain relatively stable across gestational ages. Abortion attitudes questions with no reference to weeks' gestation appear to be the most similar to questions referencing early weeks' gestation.
Conclusion
When answering abortion attitude questions that do not include any reference to weeks' gestation, respondents may be more likely to think about abortion early in pregnancy. Including references to weeks' gestation may provide a more nuanced and complete understanding of abortion attitudes.
Objectives: We explored public opinion about using telemedicine to provide medication abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. We also investigated the associations between socio-demographic characteristics and support for using telemedicine in this context and explored factors that influenced respondents' attitudes on the topic. Study design: In a nationally representative, web-based survey of US adults ( n = 711), we asked openand closed-ended questions about using telemedicine to prescribe medication abortion during COVID-19. We used multinomial logistic regression to assess the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics, endorsement of abortion labels, and political affiliation and support for telemedicine in this circumstance. Then, we conducted content and thematic analyses with the open-ended data to explore what influenced respondents' opinions. Results: Overall, 332 (44%) of respondents supported using telemedicine for medication abortion during the pandemic; 237 (35%) opposed and 138 (21%) were unsure. Respondents who identified as prochoice were more likely to support using telemedicine for abortion during the pandemic than those who identified as prolife were to oppose it in this context (RRR 2.95; 95% CI 1.31-6.64). Via our content and thematic analysis, we identified that concerns about safety, the legitimacy of telemedicine, and the belief that abortion should occur as early in the pregnancy as possible influenced respondents' beliefs about using telemedicine for medication abortion. Conclusions: More respondents supported using telemedicine for medication abortion during COVID-19 than opposed it. Among respondents who expressed support, most thought that medication abortion was safe and that telemedicine was equivalent to the in-person provision of care. Implications: There appears to be support among US adults for the provision of medication abortion via telemedicine during COVID-19. Policymakers may consider public sentiment as well as clinical evidence when considering legislation about abortion.
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