Abortion Before 20 Weeks

This chapter focuses on abortion before 20 weeks in the United States. The chapter begins with an introduction of key abortion concepts, followed by a discussion of abortion legality in the United States. This leads into a discussion of surgical and medical abortion and a description of self-managed abortions. The authors then provide information about who accesses abortion care in the United States, and they highlight populations who are disproportionately impacted by abortion barriers. This is followed by a discussion of how abortion barriers burden mental health. An additional section details how abortion is paid for, including a description of the Hyde Amendment, abortion funds, and crisis pregnancy centers. The chapter concludes with a discussion of social work advocacy, allyship, and intervention recommendations.