In Ohio, An Ongoing Struggle For Reproductive Health

By Abbey Gingras

Miami University journalism student

On a rainy Monday morning in Cincinnati, a handful of protestors are gathered outside Planned Parenthood with bright signs. They're covered with a mix of statements and images meant to shock -- a scene that employees and patients must go by to enter the building.

Beyond them, visitors pass through two sets of bullet proof glass doors and offer up identification before going further into the building. Signs are posted against firearms entering the building and against photography inside.

All of this is due to Planned Parenthood's position as a known abortion provider, a medical procedure that, while legal in Ohio and across the nation, draws sharp criticism and heated debate. However, abortion is just one component of women's reproductive healthcare at Planned Parenthood and other centers.

For Cincinnati's Planned Parenthood medical director Roslyn Kady, the job has always felt important.

"I can't tell people strongly enough how much I love my job," Kady says. "I grew up before Roe, which makes my sense of commitment to it stronger."

Before the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973, abortion access was restricted and even illegal in many places.

The later decision of Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1991 set precedence for when abortions could be performed -- the term "fetal viability" came to life, which in most cases is defined as being anywhere between 24 and 26 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions after this point are typically illegal, although each state has its own set of laws.

Ohio: Heartbeats And Restrictions

In Ohio, a state with stronger anti-abortion laws than most, legislation against abortion is common. In 2016, the state legislature passed a "heartbeat bill" that would have restricted abortions after the fetus has a heartbeat -- which can occur as early as six to eight weeks.

The bill was highly criticized on the left and the right as many women don't find out they're pregnant until week five or six. Governor John Kasich eventually signed an alternative version of this law that restricts abortion after 20 weeks.

For those against abortion in women's healthcare, such as Treena Newcomer at Oxford Women's Care Center, these regulations are a positive step.

"We're here with them and supporting them," says Newcomer in reference to parents-to-be. "We try to help them think about other options like adoption, and we do everything possible to help them be successful through pregnancy and beyond."

However, Kady and others struggle with the restrictions set by local governments.

"There is so much judgment," she says. "These women are thoughtful and moral, it's not about themselves."

Under the new Ohio law, if a woman were to want or need to have an abortion after 20 weeks, she would have to go to another state to do so. For women with lower incomes or lack of transportation, this could be impossible. But even before the 20 week mark, obstacles remain.

"Patients must have an ultrasound and must be informed of cardiac activity before they can have an abortion," Kady says. "State law also requires a 24-hour wait and state mandated information before the procedure can be performed."

This means that a patient must go to Planned Parenthood or another provider at least twice, which can be complicated with a busy schedule, work or lack of transportation.

Some women's health centers, like the one in Oxford, are not medical providers -- these locations focus mainly on being a resource to the community.

"We see everyone from Miami students to community members," Newcomer says. "We provide free pregnancy tests, emotional support and educational information on adoption or raising a child. We strive to be informative and empowering."

Challenging Myths

Many myths and misconceptions surround abortions, unplanned pregnancies and facilities like Planned Parenthood. According to Kady, the average abortion patient is around 25 years old and already has at least one child. This is a far cry from the stereotypical pregnant teenager many associate with the procedure.

"Most of these women are here because they can't care for a child or because they are struggling to care for the children they already have," she says.

Newcomer, too, says the Oxford Women's Care Center sees more community members than young Miami students when it comes to unplanned pregnancies. The center also provides information on post-abortion counseling -- however, a recent study found that the idea of emotional trauma following an abortion is more fiction than fact.

Organizations like Planned Parenthood provide access to birth control for women who need it, a way to promote reproductive health, and work to reduce the need for abortions in the first place. In fact, many women seek abortions when birth control options like contraceptive pills and condoms fail.

But that doesn't stop the protestors from gathering outside abortion providers. For Kady, their anger can be frustrating and, every so often, frightening.

"They aren't pro-family or pro-life, they're pro-birth," she says. "Where are they when unwanted babies are born?"

The Oxford Women's Care center is Christian-based and Newcomer herself is against abortion. However, she approaches the idea with a softer approach than protestors with vulgar signs.

"We do everything possible to steer them to choose life," she says. "But we welcome anyone in -- we're here to serve the community and offer as much support as we can."

Commitment In Face Of Violence

Abortion providers like Kady often face threats of violence -- according to the Center for Reproductive Rights, 34.2 percent of them reported "severe violence or threats of violence" against themselves in the first half of 2016.

Kady recalls protestors gathering on her lawn years ago, causing anger in her neighborhood.

"Many years ago our home was picketed every week," she says. "I think it made our neighbors pro-choice because they were so angry about it. Nobody ever said anything mean to me."

Sometimes, it escalates beyond picketing and threats. Barnett Slepian, an abortion provider, was shot in his home in 1998. In 2015, three people were killed in an attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado.

While these incidents trouble Kady, her work keeps her going.

"Women are grateful that we're here and that we don't judge them. They don't often hear that they're trustworthy," she says. "It's a safe, respectful place to obtain reproductive healthcare."

In Oxford, Newcomer's approach to women's healthcare is different from Kady's. But her passion for her job is equally apparent.

"We work hard to serve people with unplanned pregnancies," she says. "We're always adapting to community needs, but our goal to support mothers and fathers through pregnancy and beyond remains the same."

Photo: A Planned Parenthood visitor badge. Abortion providers such as Planned Parenthood have a number of safety measures in place in order to protect their patients as well as staff. --Photo by Abbey Gingras