The survey, commissioned by the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, reports that almost half of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women and gender-expansive respondents do not have a reproductive health care provider. The forum’s Fajer Saeed Ebrahim described the effort as the first installment of a planned five-year survey project.
More than half of participants said they were unsure how far they would have to go for abortion services. Nearly one-third lacked an estimate for other reproductive care. Among those who gave a distance, most expected less than an hour of travel for non-abortion reproductive care, according to the survey.
The results also point to broader pressures. About 57% said they care for a child or an older relative. Nearly one-quarter reported that they or someone they know had avoided travel, medical appointments, work or public places because of immigration-status worries. Japanese women and lower-income respondents were especially likely to report no reproductive health provider.
Ebrahim linked some barriers to cultural stigma and confusion about state laws. She said many community members do not know their state’s abortion rules and were surprised that providers can face punishment. The survey also found that about 60% said abortion is difficult to discuss in their communities, even as many support abortion rights.
Most respondents lived in states where abortion is legal, while roughly one-fifth lived where it is illegal or heavily restricted. The poll was fielded in June in English and several other languages, including Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hindi and Tagalog. It included people from more than 20 ethnic backgrounds, with the largest regional share in the West. Lake Research Partners and Sprout Insight conducted it for the forum.