12%-20% Women Visit Crisis Pregnancy Centers Across Four States

A recent study published in PLOS One reveals that between 12% to 20% of women aged 18 to 44 with a history of pregnancy or pregnancy testing in Arizona, Wisconsin, Iowa, and New Jersey have sought care at crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs), which are unlicensed facilities often posing as medical clinics with an anti-abortion agenda. These centers offer free pregnancy-related resources but have been widely criticized for providing misleading or inaccurate reproductive health information, such as false claims linking abortion to breast cancer, poor mental health, and infertility. The number of CPCs in the U.S. vastly exceeds abortion facilities, raising concerns among health professionals about the risks these centers pose by not adhering to medical and safety standards. The study's survey of nearly 9,000 women found no significant correlation between CPC attendance and demographic factors like age, race, or socioeconomic status, indicating broad utilization across populations. Experts warn that pregnant patients might encounter misinformation at CPCs, emphasizing the need for healthcare providers to be aware of this issue amid a shifting reproductive health care landscape. These findings underscore the importance of addressing misinformation in reproductive health and monitoring the role of CPCs as legislative and social contexts evolve.