Fact Sheet: The Shortage of Abortion Providers

  • 86% of all U.S. counties and 95% of all rural U.S. counties have no abortion provider.1

  • 58% of all OB-GYNs who perform abortions are 50 years of age or older.2

  • In 1983 42% of all OB-GYN doctors offered abortion services; in 1995 only 33% did.3

  • 2% of OB-GYNs perform the majority of abortions in the U.S.3

  • Only 12% of OB-GYN residency programs require training in first trimester abortion.4

  • Only 7% of OB-GYN residency programs require training in second trimester abortion.4

  • Only 15% of chief residents in family medicine residency programs had clinical experience providing first trimester abortions.5

  • 44 states have "physician only" provisions in their abortion laws which prevent qualified practitioners such as nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants from performing abortions.6

  • 7% of abortions are performed in hospitals, 4% are performed in private doctor’s offices, 89% are performed in clinics.1

  • Between 1992 and 1996 the number of U.S. hospitals providing abortions decreased by 18%.1

  • There have been almost 2,400 reported instances of violence against abortion providers since 1977, including 7 murders and 16 attempted murders (actual instances are most likely higher).7

  • Abortion is the only medical procedure with a "conscience clause" that allows medical providers to refuse to participate in the care of a patient.

Sources: 1S.K. Henshaw, "Abortion Incidence and Services in the United States, 1995-1996," Family Planning Perspectives, 30:6, 1998. 2Kaiser Family Foundation Fact Sheet: Abortion in the U.S., 2000. 3J. Hitt, "Who Will Do Abortions Here?", New York Times Magazine, January 18, 1998. 4H.T. MacKay and A.P. MacKay, "Abortion Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Programs In the United States, 1991-1992," Family Planning Perspectives, 27: 112-115, 1995. 5J.E. Steinauer et al., "Training Family Practice Residents in Abortion and Other Reproductive Health Care: A Nationwide Survey," Family Planning Perspectives 29: 222-227, 1997. 6National Abortion Federation, "The Role of Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Nurse-Midwives in Providing Abortions," 1997. 7National Abortion Federation, "NAF Violence & Disruption Statistics," 1999.


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