The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50351

Katherine Hall Martinez, JD, Center for Reproductive Law and Policy, 120 Wall Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10005, (917) 637-3618, kathy.martinez@crlp.org

Women’s inability to access to legal, safe abortion services results in approximately 78,000 maternal deaths every year and is considered a major public health problem. Yet, almost 40 percent of the world’s population live in the approximately 127 countries where abortion is highly restricted or prohibited altogether. In countries where abortion is legal in at least some circumstances, there are often legal, policy and social barriers that restrict women’s ability to access safe abortion services. These include mandatory counseling, third party authorization requirements, medical facilities and personnel, restrictions on information, fees, gestational age, and enforcement variations.

The presentation will explore strategies for reforming abortion laws, both to legalize the procedure and to increase women’s ability to access abortion services, and the crucial role that the public health and medical communities play in that process. It will also examine legal and policy responses to attacks on abortion access even after a favorable legal framework exists. Reference will be made to best practices in several countries where abortion reform efforts are underway or were successful (such as Nepal, South Africa and Guyana), as well as countries where particular challenges remain (such as Mexico, El Salvador, Poland and Mali). The presentation will also discuss the case of the U.S., where despite the legalization of abortion by Roe v. Wade, obstacles continue to restrict women’s ability to access safe abortion services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will

• Be able to identify the main issues confronting those working for reform of abortion laws in several countries.
• Recognize the crucial role of the medical community in these processes.
• Understand the need for continued vigilance by providers and activists to ensure that access to legal abortion is enhanced and barriers to access are resisted.

Keywords: Abortion, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.