by Vladimir Hedrih
March 6, 2026
A systematic review of 19 studies examining abortion stigma in high-income countries found that it is present at moderate levels. Abortion stigma was stronger in males, people with lower income, political conservatives, and religious individuals. The paper was published in Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters.
Abortion stigma refers to the social discrediting and negative labeling of individuals who seek, provide, or support abortion services. It operates through moral judgments that frame abortion as deviant, irresponsible, or sinful. Stigma can be expressed interpersonally through gossip, shaming, exclusion, or hostility. It also functions through restrictive laws, institutional barriers, and policy discussions.
Continued: https://www.psypost.org/abortion-stigma-persists-at-moderate-levels-in-high-income-countries/