The harassment of U.S. Abortion providers.

Summary

In 1985, 47 percent of abortion providers experienced antiabortion harassment. The approximately 1,250 facilities that were affected served 83 percent of all abortion patients. Nonhospital facilities performing 400 or more abortions a year were the most likely targets of antiabortion activity; 88 percent reported at least one type of harassment during the year. Picketing occurred at 80 percent of these facilities. Only six percent experienced picketing alone; the average facility was subjected to five different types of activity. Seventy-three percent of the facilities were the target of at least one illegal activity.

A number of problems that made abortions more difficult or costly to provide were significantly related to the occurrence of antiabortion activity: increased expenditures for security and for legal services, loss of fire and casualty insurance, new licensing requirements and problems hiring staff. However, harassment did not appear to have affected the average number of abortions performed at large nonhospital facilities or the fee charged.

Background

Each year more than three million women in the United States experience an unplanned pregnancy. (1) About half of these women--1.5 million--obtain an abortion; (2) undoubtedly, many more consider the option of abortion.

Women who explore the availability of abortion in their area may hear not only the information they need about services, but also potentially frightening stories of harassment of providers and their patients by anti-abortion activists. Such stories probably add to the stress of obtaining an abortion. In addition, harassment directed against abortion facilities threatens the very availability of abortion services for women who need them.

Harassment of providers, staff and patients includes such activities as picketing outside clinics, tracing the identity of patients and vandalizing and destroying facilities. (3) Bombings and arson are the most frightening and violent forms harassment takes. The National Abortion Federation has documented the extent of such incidents over the past 10 years. It reports that 51 providers received bomb threats in 1986, five were subjected to attempts at arson or bombing and six facilities were damaged or destroyed by such attacks. (4) Other forms of harassment can also have harmful effects on providers and on women forced to obtain abortions in a hostile environment. This article attempts to summarize the degree to which those involved in providing and obtaining legal abortions have encountered hostile activities in recent years.