Policy Knowledge and Abortion Access for US Active-Duty Servicewomen: A Mixed-Methods Study.
Caitlin Russell, Tiara Walz, Laura Manzo and 5 others
PMID 41194335WHAT IT FOUND
Many active-duty servicewomen who had abortions did not know military health coverage paid for abortion after rape or incest, or that recovery leave was an entitlement. 48% reported financial difficulty, 31% workplace repercussions, and 92% were not offered postabortion mental health support.
Key findings
0165% of participants did not know TRICARE covered abortion in cases of rape or incest, and 87% did not know they were entitled to convalescent leave after abortion.
0253% of participants took personal leave, and 46% traveled more than one hour for care.
0392% were not offered postabortion mental health support, while 77% said such support would have benefited them.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Participants were recruited by snowball sampling, so they may not represent all active-duty servicewomen who seek abortion care. All information was self-reported, and no demographic data were collected, so findings may not be generalizable across rank, service details, or other demographics. The study did not track unique visitors, so it cannot account for people who started but did not complete the questionnaire. It describes knowledge and experiences, not whether any policy, education, or mental health support changed outcomes. Stigma and fear of disclosure may cause underreporting of professional repercussions, because participants could hide abortion as miscarriage or tell no one. The sample includes only servicewomen who reported having an elective abortion while on active duty, so it does not describe those who sought care but did not have an abortion. Findings are specific to US military policy and TRICARE, so they may not apply to civilian care.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 77% who said postabortion mental health support would have benefited them as proof that providing such support improves outcomes. This study reports perceived benefit and unmet support, not a tested intervention.