Coercion and self-protection from racism during contraceptive counseling at the time of abortion in the post-Dobbs period
Contraception and Abortion
Awarded 2025
Understanding people's experiences with and preferences for post-abortion care
Kelly Treder, MD, MPH
Boston Medical Center
$74,795

Contraceptive coercion and self-protection from racism are previously described experiences of Black and Latinx patients when receiving abortion care. Contraceptive coercion at the time of abortion is a reflection of a clinician’s desire to prevent repeat abortion, abortion stigma, and cultural and structural racism. Patients protect themselves from racism when engaging with reproductive health care as a reaction to personal, vicarious and historical reproductive health injustices. Since the Dobbs decision in 2022, abortion restrictions have increased in parallel with an increase in racist rhetoric and violence. This social context provides an impetus for increased contraceptive coercion at the time of abortion facilitated by limited abortion access and the dehumanization produced by racism and social oppression. Accordingly, self-protection from racism at the time of abortion is also likely to increase. The objective of this mixed methods study is to understand the experiences of contraceptive coercion at the time of abortion; the experiences of self-protection from racism during post-abortion contraceptive counseling in the post-Dobbs period; and preferences for minimally biased, non-coercive, patient-centered contraceptive counseling at the time of abortion. The results of this study will guide clinicians and health care institutions in increasing contraceptive access post-Dobbs while still prioritizing patient autonomy and the delivery of minimally biased contraceptive care.