Inequalities and restrictions to sexual and reproductive health and rights are endangering women, write Mercedes Colomar and Veronica Fiol

BMJ 2024; 387 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.q2530
Published 18 November 2024

Mercedes Colomar, Veronica Fiol

In 1994, the International Conference on Population and Development established a groundbreaking framework recognising reproductive rights as human rights.1 This framework prioritised people and human rights in development—rather than population control. Thirty years on, stark inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights persist across national, regional, and global levels. Poor access and restrictions on abortion are contributing to maternal mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In many contexts, women have limited autonomy and decision making power over their health, exacerbating poor health outcomes. Unsafe abortion is a serious public health problem and poses a particular risk to women’s health—especially in countries where abortion is clandestine and often dangerous. The impact of unsafe abortion is particularly severe in young, impoverished, and less educated women. Studies on clandestine abortions in places where abortion is highly restricted show that women with higher incomes have a greater chance of accessing safer abortion methods than those with lower incomes.2 Legislative restrictions, inadequate social support, limited family planning services, and under-resourced healthcare infrastructures contribute to this issue. Complications from these abortions further strain local health systems because of the need for emergency and long term care.

Continued: https://www.bmj.com/content/387/bmj.q2530