Oral

This session will discuss the politics associated with abortion in the U.S. and abroad. Session topics include (1) the use of a harm reduction model used in Uruguay; (2) a description of the demographic characteristics of abortion patients including the extent to which they have experienced potentially disruptive life events in the year prior to the abortion; (3) the regulation of crisis pregnancy centers; (4) the creation of a meditative space such as The Sanctuary for patients and clinic workers managing the complex issues surrounding abortion; and (5) research which is informing future research, policy and programmatic work taking place in Asia, Latin America and Africa to address the issue of unsafe abortion among young women.

Session Objectives: 1. Discuss the practice of abortion in the U.S. and abroad. 2. Describe relationship between abortion access and women's health and human rights. 3. Identify strategies for destigmatizing abortion and for supporting both patients and abortion providers in their work.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)