Abstract
The decision to terminate a pregnancy is not one that is taken lightly. The need for an abortion reflects limited sexual autonomy, ineffective or lack of access to contraceptive options, or a health indication. Abortion is protected under human rights law. That notwithstanding, access to abortions continues to be contested in many parts of the world, with vested interests from politically and religiously conservative states, patriarchal societies, and cultural mores, not just within local contexts but also within a broader geopolitical context. Criminalization of a women's choice not to carry a pregnancy is a significant driver of unsafe procedures, and even where abortions are provided legally, the policies remain constrained by the practice or by a lack of coherence. This review outlines the trends in abortion policy in low- and middle-income countries and highlights priority areas to ensure that women are safe and able to exercise their reproductive rights.
Highlights
Terminating a pregnancy is never an easy decision
The proportion of abortions performed for unintended pregnancies has increased from 51% to 61% over the 30-year period from 1990 to 2019
We provide an overview of trends in abortion policies, over the past three decades, across several Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where data are available, outlining the local contexts and the impact of the global geopolitical landscape on realizing women’s sexual and reproductive health rights in general and access to abortion in particular
Summary
Terminating a pregnancy is never an easy decision. The need for an abortion often reflects limited sexual autonomy as well as ineffective or lack of access to family-planning and contraceptive options. We provide an overview of trends in abortion policies, over the past three decades, across several LMICs where data are available, outlining the local contexts and the impact of the global geopolitical landscape on realizing women’s sexual and reproductive health rights in general and access to abortion in particular.
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