Longitudinal Impact of Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization on Abortion Service Delivery in Ohio, 2022‒2023.

This article examines the impact of Ohio's abortion policy changes following the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization decision, which returned abortion regulation to states. Ohio enacted a 6-week abortion ban based on detection of embryonic cardiac activity, resulting in a 56% decrease in monthly abortions during the ban's nearly three-month enforcement, before the ban was blocked by a court. After the ban was lifted, abortion numbers in Ohio rebounded to and slightly exceeded pre-Dobbs levels, with an increasing proportion of patients coming from out of state, particularly from neighboring states with restrictive abortion laws. Facility staff reported challenges including increased patient volume, emotional stress, and logistical barriers, highlighting the complex effects of rapidly changing abortion regulations on care provision and access in Ohio and the surrounding region.