부산대학교 도서관

INTRODUCTION:: We investigated trends in abortions performed in Georgia before and after partial enactment of House Bill 954 (HB954) in January 2013, which bans abortions at 22 weeks from last menstrual period. METHODS:: Using publicly available data from Georgia Department of Public Healthʼs state-mandated Induced Termination of Pregnancy forms, we estimated changes in the numbers of abortions provided before (2009-2012) and after (2013-2016) the law went into partial effect, stratified by gestational age, state of residence, and year. RESULTS:: From 2009 to 2016, 257,161 abortions were performed in Georgia, including 131,655 pre- and 125,506 post-law; 88% were among Georgia residents and 4% occurred ≥20 weeks gestation. Following HB954, the number of ≥20-week abortions among in-state residents declined 22% (9% for 20-23 weeks, 74% for ≥24 weeks). Among out-of-state residents, abortions occurring ≥20 weeks declined 41% (14% for 20-23 weeks, 92% for ≥24 weeks). By year, abortions occurring 20-23 weeks declined steadily among in-state residents (549 in 2013 to 409 in 2016), but among out-of-state residents temporarily increased in 2013 (443) and 2014 (497), then sharply declined in 2015 (321) and 2016 (248). Trends in ≥24-week abortions were similar for in- and out-of-state residents, spiking from ∼0 in 2013 and 2014 to 138 in 2015. CONCLUSION:: Following HB954, abortions occurring ≥20 weeks gestation declined in Georgia, though differential trends were found across study years and residence. We are continuing to evaluate the impact of the 22-week ban, which went into full effect in October 2015, on reproductive health access, outcomes, and systems across the Southeast.