BARRIERS TO ABORTION CARE ACCESS IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA: A CALL FOR BOTTOM UP CHANGE

This project aims to identify the need for abortion care services at Temple University Health System (TUHS), attitudes surrounding these services among providers and staff, and limitations in providing this care. A 13-question, anonymous survey was sent to the Family Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology departments at TUHS to measure the frequency in which patients request abortion care services at TUHS, perceived patient barriers to abortion care, and perceived attitudes surrounding abortion care. The results show a need for abortion care services in North Philadelphia, a trend toward support for abortion provision among faculty and staff, with a belief amongst providers and staff that offering abortion care services would relieve a disparity in access within this community. However, the results show multiple internal barriers remain to offering these services, including perceived resistance and potential conflict with TUHS leadership. This project solidifies the support for abortion care services at TUHS and the ethical duty TUHS has to improving the health and wellbeing of the North Philadelphia community, including providing abortion care.