Reasons for Choosing Telehealth Abortion Based on Food Insecurity Status: United States, 2021–2022.

This article examines differences in reasons for choosing telehealth abortion based on food insecurity status, using data from the California Home Abortion by Telehealth (CHAT) Study involving 1,726 patients who received medication abortion care from three virtual U.S. clinics between 2021 and 2022. Findings indicate that individuals experiencing food insecurity were more likely than those in food-secure households to select telehealth abortion due to cost concerns, transportation challenges, lack of child or dependent care, and fears of judgment or discrimination at in-person clinics. Conversely, food-insecure individuals were less likely to prioritize telehealth for its promptness or for managing their own treatment. The study highlights economic disparities influencing abortion care preferences and suggests that telehealth abortion's lower cost and reduced logistical barriers may enhance access for economically constrained populations.