India – Why abortion should be a part of Universal Health Coverage

Debanjana Choudhuri, Vithika Yadav
May 25, 2022
By Hindustan Times

Access to abortion is an unconditional human right and should be entitled as a basic health care service delivered as a part of Universal Health Coverage (UHC). UHC is a commitment to equity and focuses on ensuring a level of quality care that helps people achieve their desired health outcomes.

While on the surface it looks easy,
pro-choice, abortion, and autonomy over women’s body face barriers in the
generational prejudice against women, existing taboos, and pedagogical approach
towards a division of labour. These various components of disparities have led
to the gross neglect of women’s health, and the most overlooked is the Sexual
and Reproductive Health Right (SRHR), which is essential to the fulfillment of
universal health coverage and is included in the Sustainable Development Goals,
which commit countries to providing universal access to sexual and reproductive
health services by 2030.

Continued: https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-insight/gender-equality/why-abortion-should-be-a-part-of-universal-health-coverage-101653469989475.html

25.05.2022

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Nigeria – Challenges in accessing abortion care for women

Challenges in accessing abortion care for women

ON DECEMBER 23, 2020
By Okon Taye

Accessing abortion care is one of the problems women in Nigeria are facing which has led to maternal deaths.

The Performance Monitoring for Action, PMA research has revealed that 10 per cent of women had no direct interaction with the abortion provider.

Continued: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/challenges-in-accessing-abortion-care-for-women/

23.12.2020

Performance Monitoring for Action group

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Unsafe Abortion

Poverty is a hurdle for women seeking abortions in rural America

Poverty is a hurdle for women seeking abortions in rural America
In the US south and beyond, getting an abortion is not only logistically and emotionally difficult – it can push someone over the financial edge

by Khushbu Shah in Shreveport, Louisiana
Wed 14 Aug 2019

For the third time in a week, LT stood at the reception in the abortion clinic in Shreveport, Louisiana, more than 90 minutes away from her home. She was – again – looking for the right paperwork to show her boss why she had taken time off work from her busy job at a chain restaurant in north-eastern Louisiana.

LT had first showed him a $550 receipt from the clinic. No, he told the 22-year-old single mother, he wanted a doctor’s note from the clinic. So – using the last $25 she had in her bank account – she drove back because, without it, her manager refused to put her back on the schedule.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/14/abortions-louisiana-us-rural-south-poverty-battle

14.08.2019

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USA – I Shouldn’t Be Forced to Give Birth to a Baby Who Won’t Live

I Shouldn’t Be Forced to Give Birth to a Baby Who Won’t Live
Our baby had a fatal birth defect. My federal health insurance plan refused to cover the abortion.

By Sarah E. Levin
July 3, 2019

When I was 20 weeks pregnant, I and my husband learned during a routine ultrasound that our baby had not developed a major portion of her brain and never would. The condition, anencephaly, a type of neural tube defect that also stunts the growth of the skull, is terminal. If carried to term, our baby would be very unlikely to survive for more than a few hours.

One in 1,000 fetuses have this condition. We had no warning signs. No indications. No idea this was coming. This was a baby we had planned for. Just three weeks earlier we had told our 5-year-old daughter that she would soon have a baby sister. We returned home from the hospital that day and had to tell her that her sister was not coming any more. It was the first time she saw me sobbing, unable to speak.

Continued: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/03/opinion/abortion-hyde-amendment.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

03.07.2019

Why do women still resort to informal sector abortions in countries where abortion is legal?

Why do women still resort to informal sector abortions in countries where abortion is legal?

Giuliano Russo & Sonia Chemlal
25 Apr 2019

Abortion is generally a safe procedure when carried out in the formal healthcare setting in countries where it is legal. However, many women choose to seek abortions outside of the formal healthcare setting, despite the inherent risk. In this blog post, the authors of a recent systematic review of qualitative studies about why women make this choice, published in BMC Women’s Health, discuss their findings.

Continued: http://blogs.biomedcentral.com/bmcseriesblog/2019/04/25/why-do-women-still-resort-to-informal-sector-abortions-in-countries-where-abortion-is-legal/

25.04.2019

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Ireland/N.Ireland – Abortion for a select few wasn’t the goal when we campaigned to repeal the eighth – but that’s exactly what’s happening

Abortion for a select few wasn’t the goal when we campaigned to repeal the eighth – but that’s exactly what’s happening
Now that it’s emerged that Northern Irish people seeking abortion services in the republic will have to pay €450, it’s clear this isn’t the end of the fight for legalisation in Ireland

Katie Goh
Jan 7, 2019

In May of last year, when Ireland voted for legalisation of abortion in its historic referendum, pro-choice campaigners on both sides of the Northern Irish-Irish border celebrated. The campaign to repeal the eighth amendment (the law that previously made abortion illegal in Ireland) had begun as a grassroots movement, culminating in a mass cultural shift led by both Irish and Northern Irish activists.

Many in the north, particularly those in border counties, canvassed in the republic, held fundraisers and rallies, and threw themselves behind pushing for a Yes vote despite not being able to vote in the referendum themselves.

Continued: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/abortion-northern-ireland-republic-repeal-eighth-vote-referendum-family-planning-a8715276.html

Pro-choice campaigners target North’s abortion laws

Pro-choice campaigners target North’s abortion laws
Women’s rights activists confident 2019 will see North’s restrictive regime reformed

Mon, Jan 7, 2019
Amanda Ferguson Belfast

Ashleigh Topley was devastated to learn at her 20-week scan that her baby had a fatal foetal abnormality and “would never take a breath”.

“Being denied a termination and then being forced to endure 15 weeks of willing my much-wanted daughter’s heart to stop and waiting for the pregnancy to end naturally can only be described as torture,” she says.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/pro-choice-campaigners-target-north-s-abortion-laws-1.3749396

Illegal abortion in Lebanon: ‘I couldn’t comprehend how painful it was’

Illegal abortion in Lebanon: 'I couldn't comprehend how painful it was'
Despite the risks, thousands of women in Lebanon undergo the banned procedure every year

Virginie Le Borgne
Thursday 20 September

BEIRUT - Farah has morbid memories of the abortion she had three years ago, but she cannot recall exactly how long the procedure took.

“I just felt like it lasted a whole day, the longest day of my life,” the 26-year-old tells Middle East Eye. “I vividly remember the unbearable wait before the operation. Since then, I haven’t been able to stop talking about it...It was gruelling.”

Continued: https://www.middleeasteye.net/in-depth/features/illegal-abortion-in-lebanon-I-couldn%27t-comprehend-how-painful-it-was-1067232849

Ireland – Health Minister: Charging for abortions would lead to private clinics popping up around the country

Health Minister: Charging for abortions would lead to private clinics popping up around the country

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Latest: The Health Minister says charging for abortions would lead to private clinics popping up around the country.

Yesterday the 8th amendment was officially removed from the constitution - following May's referendum.

Continued: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/doctors-concerned-about-public-reaction-if-they-refuse-abortion-services-869988.html

Is abortion legal in Australia? It’s complicated

Is abortion legal in Australia? It's complicated

By health reporter Olivia Willis
May 25, 2018

Ireland has just voted on whether to lift the country's controversial ban on abortion.

But in Australia, whether or not abortion is legal depends on where you live — as does the cost and availability of the procedure.

And that's because abortion laws are made by state and territory governments, not the Federal Government.

Continued: http://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2018-05-26/is-abortion-legal-in-australia/9795188