Following Dobbs decision, abortion rates rise in Washington and Oregon
Protesters hold signs demonstrating against the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in Portland, Ore., Friday, June 24, 2022. The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years, a decision by its conservative majority to overturn the court's landmark abortion cases.
AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer
The number of abortions per month in Washington increased by 5% after the Supreme Court's June decision that overturned Roe v Wade.
Oregon saw a much larger increase — 18%.
The data comes from a national effort, called #Wecount, that has been tracking changes in access to abortion since the Dobbs decision.
In Idaho, where a near total ban is in effect, the number of abortions fell by about half — 48%.
Nationwide, the number of legal abortions dropped by 6% following the high court's decision.
Research has shown that women who seek an abortion and can’t get one are more likely to live in poverty and more likely to continue to be exposed to domestic violence than women who do obtain abortions.
