A rising number of women, stung by job losses and dropped insurance coverage, are turning to clinics and family planning agencies for routine gynecological exams, contraceptives and abortions.
As the economy worsens, some Planned Parenthood clinics are reporting a record number of abortions. Other women's health agencies say they are experiencing heavier call volumes, more visits and more requests for abortion funding. In addition, many women are postponing pregnancy and switching to longer-term contraceptives that can last up to five or 10 years, clinic officials report.
"We are seeing poor women get poorer and we're also seeing low-wage women become poor," said Stephanie Poggi, executive director of the National Network of Abortion Funds. "The economy is definitely having an impact. . . . We see a greater demand for assistance."
Quantifying the increase is difficult since the most recent statistics are several years old. In California, the most recent data on abortions funded through Medi-Cal, which provides healthcare for the poor, is from 2005, when the state paid for an estimated 94,600 abortions for poor women.
But those who field phone calls for assistance say many pregnant women tell them they are taking a hard look at the costs of raising a child.
At the Oakland-based ACCESS, which helps poor women who are seeking reproductive healthcare, about 72% of calls are from women considering abortions, up from 60% last year.
"We are seeing women who have children, who in another economy would probably have their second or third child, but now can't because they feel so insecure about maintaining their job or losing a job," said Destiny Lopez, the organization's executive director.
Lopez said most women recently getting abortions already have families, contrary to the stereotype of the childless abortion seeker.
"Women are really having to make thoughtful decisions whether now is the right time to get pregnant or not," she said.
In Los Angeles County, Planned Parenthood has 15% more patient cases than this time a year ago. Mary-Jane Wagle, president and chief executive of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, said more women coming into their 15 clinics are seeking longer-term contraceptives. In the first three months of 2009, requests for intra-uterine devices -- which prevent pregnancies for five to 10 years -- were up 83% over the same period in 2008.
