Do all roads lead to the same destination? Proximity to abortion providers, abortions, and their conditions in Portugal

Abstract In Portugal, 65% of gynecologists conscientiously object to performing abortions, limiting the provision of abortion services across the country. This paper exploits quasi-random variation in abortion supply related to changes in doctor availability to examine how variations in proximity to an abortion provider affect the probability a pregnancy is aborted and the conditions under which abortions occur, including when, where, and how. Using a novel dataset of the universe of legal abortions in Portugal, I find suggestive evidence that there are fewer abortions among women living further away from a provider relative to women living closer. I also find evidence that these women have abortions later, are more likely to be referred by public hospitals to private clinics, and have an increased risk of having a surgical abortion.