Global Abortion Policies Database: A descriptive analysis of the regulatory and policy environment related to abortion

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2020 Jan:62:25-35. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2019.06.002. Epub 2019 Jun 26.

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems states that regulatory, policy, and programmatic barriers that hinder access to and timely provision of safe abortion care should be removed. Although some regulatory requirements facilitate access, where they act as barriers, they can deter women from seeking safe abortion care. We use data available in the Global Abortion Policies Database as of February 2019 to review policies related to regulatory requirements identified as access barriers in the Safe abortion guidance. We include only countries where such policies apply, i.e., where abortion is lawful on the woman's request, with no requirement for justification and/or for one or more legal grounds. The results demonstrate the variation that exists in regulatory requirements, but little remains known about how they are implemented in practice and the implications on how women access and how providers offer safe abortion services.

Keywords: Abortion laws; Abortion policies; Abortion regulations; Lawful abortion.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Abortion, Legal / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Databases, Factual
  • Female
  • Global Health
  • Health Policy*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Human Rights / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Human Rights / standards*
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Women's Health / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • World Health Organization