Arizona’s now-repealed abortion ban serves as a cautionary tale for reproductive health care across the US

Abortion rights supporters gather outside the Arizona Capitol building in Phoenix. AP Photo/Matt York Black women account for nearly half of all abortions in the United States yet are more likely to live in a contraceptive desert – meaning areas where they lack access to a full spectrum of contraceptive options – and are less likely to be able to afford the cost of an abortion and associated travel expenses. by Swapna Reddy, Arizona State University and Mary Saxon, Arizona State University When the Arizona Supreme Court ruled on April 9, 2024, that the state’s Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions was enforceable, it brought into stark reality the potential impacts of leaving reproductive rights up to the states to regulate, and the related consequences for women’s health. The ruling, set to go into effect in late June 2024, will only remain active for a few months because Arizona lawmakers repealed the law on April 30. Starting in the fall, a previous state law banning abortion after 15 weeks will be reinstated. The rapidly changing legal landscape and conflicting information has fueled fear and confusion for women, families, hospitals, physicians and other health care providers, and had a chilling...