In Mexico, abortion is severely restricted by law. In all states, abortion is not considered a criminal act in cases of rape, in most states when the woman's life is in danger and in a few states for other reasons. Many barriers exist, apart from the legal status, to making the right to abortion a reality. Although in a few hospitals in Mexico City, legal abortions (Legal Interruption of Pregnancy, or ILE in Spanish) are performed, many hospital directors and other health care professionals refuse to implement abortion services. Currently, only two public health hospitals provide these services to rape victims in Mexico City. A pilot project in Mexico is using various strategies to assess the availability of legal abortion. The results will inform the design of effective interventions to improve the access to and quality of legal abortion services. Interviews were carried out with health care providers in four hospitals and with rape survivors who received legal and medical services following the assault. The results indicate a clear need for: development of clear norms and procedures by hospital Ethics Committees; special training for all involved in legal abortion services; and improved coordination between the medical and judicial systems. Objectives of learning: · Describe health care providers' knowledge level on the legal status of abortion. · Specify the situations in which service providers agree to participate in legal abortion. · Identify the principle barriers that limit access to legal abortion for survivors of rape.
Learning Objectives: · Describe health care providers' knowledge level on the legal status of abortion. · Specify the situations in which service providers agree to participate in legal abortion. · Identify the principle barriers that limit access to legal abortion for survivors of rape
Keywords: Abortion, Women's Quality Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Ipas, IMSS-Solidaridad (Mexico)
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee, Ipas Mexico