Abortion Incidence

•Approximately 862,320 abortions occurred in the United States in 2017. The resulting abortion rate of 13.5 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15–44) represents an 8% decrease from the 2014 rate of 14.6.[1]

•In 2017, 12,400 abortions were provided in Arizona, though not all abortions that occurred in Arizona were provided to state residents: Some patients may have traveled from other states, and some Arizona residents may have traveled to another state for an abortion. There was a a 6% decline in the abortion rate in Arizona between 2014 and 2017, from 9.8 to 9.2 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. Abortions in Arizona represent 1.4% of all abortions in the United States.[1]

Where Patients Obtain Abortions

•In 2017, there were 1,587 facilities providing abortion in the United States, representing a 5% decrease from the 1,671 facilities in 2014. Sixteen percent of facilities in 2017 were abortion clinics (i.e., clinics where more than half of all patient visits were for abortion), 35% were nonspecialized clinics, 33% were hospitals and 16% were private physicians' offices. Sixty percent of all abortions were provided at abortion clinics, 35% at nonspecialized clinics, 3% at hospitals and 1% at physicians' offices.[1]

•There were 11 facilities providing abortion in Arizona in 2017, and 8 of those were clinics. These numbers represent an 11% decline in clinics from 2014, when there were 12 abortion-providing facilities overall, of which nine were clinics.[1]

•In 2017, 89% of U.S. counties had no clinics providing abortions. Some 38% of reproductive-age women lived in those counties and would have had to travel elsewhere to obtain an abortion.[1] Of patients who had an abortion in 2014, one-third had to travel more than 25 miles one way to reach a facility.[2]

•In 2017, some 80% of Arizona counties had no clinics that provided abortions, and 18% of Arizona women lived in those counties.[1]

Restrictions on Abortion

In Arizona, the following restrictions on abortion were in effect as of June 28, 2022:

• A patient must receive state-directed counseling that includes information designed to discourage the patient from having an abortion, and then wait 24 hours before the procedure is provided. Counseling must be provided in person and must take place before the waiting period begins, thereby necessitating two trips to the facility.
• Health plans offered in the state’s health exchange under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion in cases of life endangerment or severely compromised physical health.
• Abortion is covered in insurance policies for public employees only in cases of life endangerment or severely compromised health.
• The use of telemedicine to administer medication abortion is prohibited.
• The parent of a minor must consent before an abortion is provided.
• The Medicaid program does not provide coverage for medically necessary abortions, despite a court order directing it to do so.
• A patient must undergo an ultrasound at least 24 hours before obtaining an abortion; the provider must offer the patient the option to view the image.
• An abortion may be performed at or after viability only if the patient's life or health is endangered.
• The state prohibits abortions performed for the purpose of race or sex selection.
• The state requires abortion clinics to meet unnecessary and burdensome standards related to their physical plant, equipment and staffing.