Women access health care in a variety of settings, many of which are more accessible and familiar than an Ob-Gyn office or reproductive health clinic. Family doctors, for example, treat women and their families for a variety of health concerns; they provide routine primary care, as well as, in many communities, pregnancy care and even delivering babies.  Unfortunately, the majority of doctors - even those providing a range of pregnancy obstetrical care - are not trained to provide abortion, nor have many had adequate preparation to help them respond to women’s abortion needs in other ways. With one in three American women using abortion services yet a declining number of abortion providers, seeking abortion care is persistent need for many of these doctors’ patients.

What if a woman could receive safe abortion care in the familiar setting of her family doctor’s office?  What if doctors and other highly trained clinicians were routinely trained to provide the comprehensive services women need?

AAP believes that by introducing abortion care into a variety of education settings, we can better prepare clinicians to address abortion needs and significantly reduce the barriers women face to accessing abortion.  Our goal is to promote sustainable early abortion training opportunities and integrated reproductive options education so that all interested and qualified clinicians can learn the skills they need.  By readying new abortion providers and educated healthcare professionals, we ensure that more women can get services in familiar settings and advice from clinicians they trust.  Our work expanding abortion care through training and education is particularly focused on low income and rural communities.

AAP is actively working with family medicine programs, nursing programs, clinicians and future clinicians nationwide.  Our work to sustainably mainstream abortion care into comprehensive care way is one of the many ways AAP is using innovative solutions to address gaps in abortion access.