Citation

Contracept. Technol. Update 1997; 18(4): 41-43.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, American Health Consultants)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12295173

Abstract

Fire bombings and other acts of violence continue to threaten the safety of reproductive health care providers and patients in the US. According to a survey of more than 300 US clinics administered by the Feminist Majority Foundation, 29.5% of all US reproductive health clinics experienced severe violence (including death threats, chemical attacks, stalking, bombings, and arson) in the first 7 months of 1996. When other types of activities such as vandalism and home picketing of physicians were included, this statistic rose to 45.8%. Such violence, first restricted to abortion clinics, is now extending to family planning clinics that support a woman's right to choose abortion but do not actually perform the procedure. Clinics that make referrals for abortion, are affiliated with Planned Parenthood, or are publicly associated with support for abortion rights are primary targets. An encouraging finding of the Feminist Majority Foundation survey was that reproductive health care workers remain committed to their work, despite the threat of violence. Only 3.9% of clinics reported staff resignations in 1996 related to anti-abortion violence.

Language: en