In the last five years, one-quarter of all U.S. clinics providing abortion services have been closed down.
The report, by Esmé Deprez, counts at least 162 abortion clinics that have closed down or stopped offering the procedure since 2011, affecting access for 30.5 million women. The single greatest factor was new legislation.
As Deprez reports, the closures have been widespread.
Texas, which in 2013 passed sweeping clinic regulations that are under scrutiny by the Supreme Court, saw the most: at least 30. It was followed by Iowa, with 14, and Michigan, with 13. California’s loss of a dozen providers shows how availability declined, even in states led by Democrats, who tend to be friendly to abortion rights.
During the same time, fewer than two dozen new clinics were opened. Through a combination of legislation, intimidation tactics, invented ”scandals,” and outright violence, opponents of abortion rights continue to make headway in service to their cause.