Primary Submission Category: Reproductive health
Adolescence Post-Dobbs: A Policy-Driven Research Agenda for Minors and Abortion
Authors: Julie Maslowsky, Laura Lindberg, Emily S. Mann,
Presenting Author: Julie Maslowsky*
Methods: We convened a 35-member expert consensus panel, who represented five different constituencies- social science and public health researchers, clinicians, policy and legal experts, community organization leaders, and youth. These convenings were supplemented by synthesis of existing research and tracking of relevant laws.
Results: First, we created a comprehensive catalog of local, state, and federal policies impacting minors’ access to abortion. We classified policies into five categories: access to information, conditions of clinical services, practical support, parental involvement, and privacy issues. Second, we described four key overarching challenges to research on adolescent abortion access policies. Third, we developed an actionable research agenda on minors and abortion. Finally, we detailed specific methodologies to answer these questions and suggest data that may be used to answer some questions (and where new data are needed to answer others).
Conclusions: The lack of research on minors is an equity issue and a liability to the field as we attempt to inform evidence-based policies on reproductive health. This presentation will address the challenges to doing SRH research with minors, how to overcome them, the importance of research on minors, and a research agenda to move us toward evidence-based policy.