Roe v. Wade Overturned: The Association of Acculturation with Interest in and Awareness of Hospital Services for Family Planning Among Hispanic Women

Abstract

Introduction: The overturning of Roe v. Wade impacted family planning services in many areas of the United States (US). Our study investigates the association of acculturation with interest in and awareness of family planning hospital services of contraception and elective termination of pregnancy among Hispanic women. Methods: We surveyed 306 Hispanic women at a public hospital in a Long Island suburb of New York City. Predictor variables were acculturation (language, media, ethnic social relations) measured by the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanics and years lived in the US. Outcome variables were interest in and awareness of hospital services of family planning for elective abortion and non-elective non-abortion family planning methods. Results: For interest in hospital services, both language and ethnic social relations acculturation were significantly positively associated with almost all family planning methods whether abortion or non-abortion. However, media acculturation and years lived in the US were significantly positively associated with abortion but not the non-abortion methods. For awareness of hospital services, only language acculturation was significantly positively associated with abortion and some nonelective non-abortion family planning methods. Conclusion: We recommend that healthcare providers and hospitals should be aware of acculturation levels when providing counseling and information about family planning methods to Hispanic women.