The Other “A” Word: Assessing the Accessibility of Abortion in Academia

Abstract

Objective: To assess the accessibility of abortion providers across collegiate campuses in the State of Colorado.

Participants: Analysis was on secondary data from the Integrated Postsecondary Data System and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Methods: We utilized a framework of Reproductive Justice to assess and interpret the accessibility of abortion providers to college students by mapping reproductive health centers and nonprofit institutions of higher education, then using these data to statistically compare racial demographics, female employment, and insurance coverage between institutions with and without access.

Results: Of nonprofit postsecondary institutions in Colorado, 11 institutions lack access, serving ∼38,900 students. Of these students, 88.7% attend a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). MSIs lacking abortion access had 8% more female enrollment [ t(18.32) = −2.04, p = 0.027]. Campuses possessing student health centers are less likely to have an MSI designation (50% with vs. 82% without), have greater female Hispanic enrollment by 10% [ t(23.72) = 3.11, p = 0.005] and lower female multiracial enrollment by 2% [ t(37.00) = 2.20, p = 0.034]. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results indicated significant differences in percent composition of Asian, black or African American, Two or More, and Nonresident demographics between collegiate campuses with 30-, 45-, and 60-minute drive-time access. ANOVA results indicated separate patterns of differences for Zip Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) demographics for Asian, black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Other Race, and Nonresident populations. Planned contrasts demonstrated that this difference was greatest at the 30-minute drive-time access, supporting the use of 30-minute drive time as an important indicator of access.

Conclusions: The colleges lacking access to a provider are predominantly MSIs in lower income communities. The patterns in campus and ZCTA demographics indicate that collegiate populations are affected by rurality differently than the general population. We recommend that future qualitative research to assess rural students' perceptions on access, campus health center practices, and practices on campuses without dedicated health facilities.