The choice: a rural mother and abortion care on the Washington-Idaho border

Synopsis

Maternity care deserts make it hard to access abortion services, even in states where abortion is legal. Katia Riddle, reporting for The Guardian from the Washington-Idaho border, follows a single mother of four, Jasmine, as she searches for abortion options in rural America.

Despite living in a state with strong abortion protections, Jasmine struggled to find care due to the distance to a Planned Parenthood from her home, the high cost of an abortion, and not knowing where to look for help. In her search for options, she turned to an anti-abortion crisis pregnancy center, the only nearby place offering a free ultrasound. The center ultimately persuaded her against her initial decision to have an abortion. Now, Jasmine navigates single motherhood, focusing on substance recovery and holding onto the hope of a better future with her partner, who is currently incarcerated for assaulting her.