Today in the U.S., at least one woman will die giving birth. A third will suffer serious psychological trauma, and dozens will have near-death experiences and catastrophic injuries. Coronavirus hasn’t changed this. That’s the scary thing about a pandemic. The problems that existed before still exist. People facing these problems just get less help. That’s doubly true when it comes to abortion. Abortion remains more important than ever, yet the virus that’s killing thousands may deliver the final blow to accessible abortion in the U.S.
How Coronavirus is Affecting Abortion Clinics
In the best circumstances, abortion clinics are under attack. Now, they face an even more dangerous climate. With few resources and no government support, they’ll have to find a way to enforce social distancing, keep waiting areas disinfected, and assess each patient for signs of an illness that can be contagious up to 14 days before symptoms appear. Many clinics are already reducing their operating hours. That leaves more women to compete over fewer abortion slots.
Women with pre-existing conditions are more likely to get and die from coronavirus. They’re also more likely to suffer catastrophic pregnancy complications that may make an abortion the only safe option. Yet no one with the right resources—certainly not anyone on the federal level—is doing anything to ensure abortion clinics have the resources they need to keep patients safe. That’s because, even when it is medically necessary, we don’t treat abortion as a vital health service in this country. So unlike a woman who needs cancer surgery to save her life, a woman who needs a life-saving abortion may get little support from healthcare systems. At hospitals that provide abortion, abortions may now be classified as elective surgery, delaying them indefinitely.
How Coronavirus Could Increase Demand for Abortion
It’s been at least a century since the U.S. has witnessed a situation like the pandemic we currently face. We’re more interconnected now than ever. So it’s unclear how this crisis will affect daily life over the long term. It could take years to recover, especially without the right social support for the most vulnerable. Some women may choose abortion because they do not know what the future holds.
This increased demand could intensify the access disparity that already exists. Privileged, wealthy women already have an easier time getting abortions, while poor women may struggle to save up for the procedure or take time off of work. People forced to take time off work without pay and without a promise that their job will return may be in more dire straits than ever. An abortion can prevent things from spiraling out of control. It could also present an insurmountable financial hurdle. If you’d like to help someone fund their abortion, now is a great time to donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds.
The Disproportionate Burden of COVID-19 on Pregnant Women
COVID-19 has caused unprecedented fear among women giving birth, and may directly contribute to an increase in childbirth-related abuses and trauma. Some municipalities are already banning spouses from being present at births. Abuse during birth is common, with more than a quarter of women reporting mistreatment during birth. Abuse rates may skyrocket without adequate support for women having babies. Some providers may even use COVID-19 as a scare tactic to induce compliance.
Research on COVID-19 and pregnancy is scant. We do know that pregnant women may be more vulnerable to respiratory illness, and that common pregnancy complications may worsen symptoms of COVID-19. One study of pregnant women denied abortions found that the risk of maternal mortality increases in people who seek, but are denied, terminations. So this group may face unique dangers, especially in the new era of COVID-19.
Women denied abortions face increased health risks with each trimester of their pregnancies. They must have their babies in an uncertain birth environment, then raise those children while grappling with an uncertain and potentially bleak future. Previous research has shown the catastrophic effects of being denied an abortion. Those effects may now be worse than ever.
Could Things Get Better?
Watching a pandemic unfold without meaningful national leadership has been terrifying. But it’s also meant that people across the globe have banded together to create local, inclusive responses that endeavor to protect the most vulnerable. The plea to flatten the curve came not from our president, but from a number of public health experts posting to sites such as Reddit and Medium. It’s heartening evidence that we don’t have to go back to business as usual.
Society can change for the better. We can re-evaluate the way we do things and find a better way. That extends to abortion. COVID-19 will put on full display the horror that can unfold in a nation where women can’t access abortion. Maternal deaths are already skyrocketing. It can only get worse if women are forced to remain pregnant. Let’s come together to protect women who need abortions now. And then let’s continue the fight once this crisis is over. We can’t afford to take a single step back—not now, not ever--when women’s lives are at stake.