Understanding the underreporting of abortion before and after a major legal change
Official title: Leveraging Medical Records to Understand the Underreporting of Abortion Before and After Dobbs
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10905905 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a recent Supreme Court decision has changed the way abortions are reported in medical records and surveys, helping us understand why some abortions might not be reported and how these changes affect the health of mothers and children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2024 |
| Project end | September 20, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $224,943 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD115336-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10905905 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals who have experienced an abortion and are willing to share their medical records and survey responses.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not undergone an abortion or are not affected by the legal changes surrounding abortion may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how the recent Supreme Court decision has affected the reporting of abortion in medical records and surveys. By comparing medical records with survey responses, the study aims to identify factors that contribute to underreporting of abortions. It also seeks to understand how reporting patterns have changed since the legal ruling and to improve national estimates of abortion incidence. This work is crucial for understanding the implications of legal changes on maternal and child health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide more accurate data on abortion rates, informing healthcare policies and improving maternal health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has successfully utilized medical records to improve data accuracy in health reporting, suggesting that this approach has potential for meaningful insights.
Where this research is happening
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University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bailey, Martha Jane — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Bailey, Martha Jane
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.