The Problems with Crisis Pregnancy Centers: Reviewing the Literature and Identifying New Directions for Future Research

Physicians and healthcare professionals as advocates for abortion care and reproductive choice

“…These centers have a disproportionately negative impact on poor communities, young individuals, and communities of color, through offering free services such as ultrasound [1]. As shown by Montoya et al [1], CPCs dispense misinformation about abortion care with a specific goal to discourage and delay access to nondirective evidence-based pregnancy options counseling with the opportunity to choose abortion. Furthermore, as demonstrated in the literature by Montoya et al, and Swartzendruber et al, the manipulative approach of CPCs have known negative impacts on the individual level, and a significant negative public health impact -as CPCs delay and prevent access to safe and legal abortion by communities that already face significant barriers to healthcare access [1,2].…”

“…As shown by Montoya et al [1], CPCs dispense misinformation about abortion care with a specific goal to discourage and delay access to nondirective evidence-based pregnancy options counseling with the opportunity to choose abortion. Furthermore, as demonstrated in the literature by Montoya et al, and Swartzendruber et al, the manipulative approach of CPCs have known negative impacts on the individual level, and a significant negative public health impact -as CPCs delay and prevent access to safe and legal abortion by communities that already face significant barriers to healthcare access [1,2]. Some tactics employed by CPCs include the falsehood of framing anti-abortion counseling as comprehensive options counseling, the distribution of medically inaccurate information about disproven risks of abortion, ultrasonography performed by untrained or inadequately trained staff that may give patients inaccurate pregnancy dating, the exchange of social services in a quid pro quo for attending religion-based seminars, intentionally designed to attract underserved communities, and colocation with and similar naming to legitimate abortion clinics [1].…”

“…The mission of CPCs, nonprofit organizations that pose as healthcare clinics, is to prevent access to and discourage abortion care [1]. These centers have a disproportionately negative impact on poor communities, young individuals, and communities of color, through offering free services such as ultrasound [1].…”

Crisis Pregnancy Centers

“…Crisis pregnancy centers commonly receive federal and state funding, including Title X and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. 1 As obstetrician–gynecologists, it is our duty to vote against allocation of such funding that could support these misguided and potentially dangerous organizations. Educating patients about crisis pregnancy centers also should be considered as part of routine sexual education counseling with our patients.…”

“…Crisis pregnancy centers are places that provide counseling explicitly intended to discourage and limit access to abortion under the disguise of health care. 1 I had no idea I would not be seeing a doctor or a nurse; instead I saw a group of religious volunteers pushing their ideals on vulnerable women looking for pregnancy resources.…”