Evaluating the Impact of a Mandatory Pre-Abortion Ultrasound Viewing Law: A Mixed Methods Study

BackgroundSince mid-2013, Wisconsin abortion providers have been legally required to display and describe pre-abortion ultrasound images. We aimed to understand the impact of this law.MethodsWe used a mixed-methods study design at an abortion facility in Wisconsin. We abstracted data from medical charts one year before the law to one year after and used multivariable models, mediation/moderation analysis, and interrupted time series to assess the impact of the law, viewing, and decision certainty on likelihood of continuing the pregnancy. We conducted in-depth interviews with women in the post-law period about their ultrasound experience and analyzed them using elaborative and modified grounded theory. ResultsA total of 5342 charts were abstracted; 8.7% continued their pregnancies pre-law and 11.2% post-law (p=0.002). A multivariable model confirmed the law was associated with a higher odds of continuing pregnancy (aOR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.01-1.50). Decision certainty (aOR=6.39, 95% CI: ...