Exploring Google Searches for Out-of-Clinic Medication Abortion in the United States During 2020: Infodemiology Approach Using Multiple Samples.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As access barriers to in-person abortion care increase due to legal restrictions and COVID-19-related disruptions, individuals may be turning to the internet for information and services on out-of-clinic medication abortions. Google searches allow us to explore timely population-level interest in this topic and assess its implications.

Objective

We examined the extent to which people searched for out-of-clinic medication abortions in the United States in 2020 through 3 initial search terms: home abortion, self abortion, and buy abortion pill online.

Methods

Using the Google Trends website, we estimated the relative search index (RSI)-a comparative measure of search popularity-for each initial search term and determined trends and its peak value between Janu

SUBMITTER: Guendelman S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10014087 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature