The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, or Dobbs, overturned the constitutional right to abortion in 2022. The effects of this decision are likely far-reaching, but we don’t yet have the evidence to fully understand Dobbs’ impacts.

Our research, which includes a survey of more than 45,000 people and focus groups with directly affected people, will fill this knowledge gap.

The Urban Institute, SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison are working together to rigorously assess how Dobbs has affected the broader reproductive health access and experiences, health outcomes, and social and economic well-being of women and other people who can get pregnant—especially for those from marginalized communities, who are likely disproportionately affected.

Our Goals

1. Provide advocates, community partners, policymakers, providers, and people working on the ground with the evidence they need to inform policy changes and improve access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health care.
2. Document the effects of post-Dobbs abortion restrictions on abortion and broader reproductive health access and experiences, health outcomes, and social and economic well-being.
3. Understand how barriers to abortion and reproductive health care access may be compounded by factors such as economic oppression, discrimination in health care, and other systemic oppression based on disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, age, and other factors.
4. Document the experiences, barriers, and needs of historically excluded groups to support community-led, targeted interventions that improve these groups’ experiences and outcomes.

HOW WE WILL CONDUCT OUR RESEARCH

The Reproductive Health Experiences and Access (RHEA) study, which runs through 2027, includes a survey of more than 45,000 people, reflecting a national sample and 13 states (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin).

It also includes follow-up interviews with a small group of survey respondents and focus groups with people affected by recent changes in reproductive health and abortion access in each study state.

A community advisory board supports the project to ensure communities’ opinions, insights, and experiences are centered in all aspects of the work.

To learn more about RHEA, contact us at [email protected].