Women’s Health
9-1-1 activations among reproductive-aged women following the Dobbs decision in the US Parvati Singh* Parvati Singh Jonathan R. Powell Maria F. Gallo Payal Chakraborty Colleen Reynolds Morgan Anderson Parvati Singh
The United States Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision in June 2022 may have preceded a surge in 9-1-1 activations for obstetric-related conditions. We used time-series analysis to examine whether the Dobbs decision corresponded with a proximate increase in obstetric-related 9-1-1 activations among reproductive-aged (15-49 years) female patients using national, monthly data from January 2018 to December 2023. Monthly national counts of obstetric-related emergent 9-1-1 activations with patient contact from January 2018 to December 2023 were retrieved from the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS) dataset. Monthly series of non-obstetric 9-1-1 activations among reproductive-aged female patients and all other 9-1-1 activations served as controls. Analysis was also stratified by three state groups per restrictiveness of state abortion policies (protective, mixed, and restrictive) within the first 3 months post Dobbs. A binary indicator of June 2022 with 0-to-3-month lags served as the exposure. Results from time series analysis showed 914 additional 9-1-1 activations for obstetric-related conditions one month following the Dobbs decision. States with protective abortion policies accounted for a about 50% of the national increase. Findings indicate an immediate surge in obstetric-related 9-1-1 activations following the Dobbs ruling, primarily in states with protective abortion policies.
