Diana Greene Foster: Research on the Impacts of Abortion Access
Published by The 19th on April 9, 2025, this article delves into the important work of Diana Greene Foster and her contributions to understanding the complexities surrounding abortion access.
Diana Greene Foster is a prominent researcher renowned for her comprehensive Turnaway Study, a 10-year project that examined the effects of abortion access on individuals and their socio-economic conditions. This pivotal research has played a crucial role in informing public perception regarding the implications of abortion restrictions.
Overview of the Turnaway Study
Foster’s Turnaway Study highlighted the stark realities faced by individuals denied abortions, revealing that they were significantly more prone to experience prolonged poverty in comparison to those who successfully terminated their unplanned pregnancies. Her outstanding work earned her a prestigious MacArthur “genius grant,” acknowledging the substantial impact of her findings on public health and policy discussions.
The Need for Continued Research
Following the tumultuous reversal of federal abortion rights, Foster aimed to expand her research, focusing on the health and economic consequences of such dramatic changes to abortion access. Her latest project, intended to analyze individuals seeking abortions amid new legal landscapes, was abruptly stalled due to a significant cut in funding.
While early findings indicated a shift in abortion timing—where individuals in states with bans were increasingly seeking second-trimester abortions—Foster stresses that comprehensive data collection is essential to fully grasp the effects of these bans, particularly for those dealing with medical complications.
“It is very likely that certain types of people are less likely to be able to get a wanted abortion… Systematic study can tell us how often it happens, quantify the added health risks of the law and help us understand how to mitigate the harms,” said Foster.
Challenges Ahead
Foster’s endeavor to secure federal funding for her follow-up study, which had only commenced shortly after the fall of Roe v. Wade, faced an unexpected setback when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) withdrew support. The NIH cited misalignment with federal goals, a decision that reflects a troubling trend of funding cuts to research focused on gender and health, particularly studies pertinent to women and LGBTQ+ issues.
The Critical Need for Funding
Despite the cancellation of approximately $2.5 million in anticipated support, Foster is committed to pursuing her research. She is currently focused on fundraising efforts to secure necessary resources to maintain her team’s operations and continue vital data collection. “I am madly fundraising to replace these canceled funds,” she stated, emphasizing her dedication to advancing critical research amid funding difficulties.
The implications of this research extend beyond academic interest; they are fundamental to shaping healthcare policies and understanding how laws impact community health, particularly for marginalized groups. The future of learning about the effects of abortion bans, especially for individuals with complex medical needs, remains uncertain but urgent.