Loading...
Policy surveillance for a global analysis of national abortion laws
Skuster, Patty Menzel, Jamie Perkins, Megan
Skuster, Patty
Menzel, Jamie
Perkins, Megan
Citations
Altmetric:
Genre
Journal article
Date
2022-05-18
Advisor
Committee member
Department
Permanent link to this record
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2022.2064208
Abstract
Policy surveillance offers a novel and important method for comparing law across jurisdictions. We used policy surveillance to examine abortion laws across the globe. Self-managed abortion, which generally takes place outside formal healthcare settings, is increasing in prevalence and can be safe. We analysed provisions that do not account for the prevalence of self-managed abortion and evidence of its safety. Such provisions require that abortion take place in a formal healthcare setting. We also analysed criminal penalties for non-compliance. Our method included development of a legal framework, an iterative process of refining coding schemes and procedures, and rigorous quality control. We limited our analysis to liberal abortion laws for two reasons. Abortion laws globally trend towards less restrictive. In addition, we aimed to focus on how laws relate to abortion outside a formal healthcare setting specifically and excluded laws that prohibit abortion more broadly. We found that in all countries with liberal national abortion laws, the law permits only healthcare professionals or trained health workers to perform legal abortion and the majority require the abortion to take place in a specified health facility. With policy surveillance methods we can illuminate characteristics of law across many jurisdictions and the need for widespread reform, toward laws that reflect scientific evidence and the way people have abortions.
Description
Citation
Patty Skuster, Jamie Menzel, Adrienne R. Ghorashi & Megan Perkins (2022) Policy surveillance for a global analysis of national abortion laws, Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 30:1, DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2022.2064208
Citation to related work
Taylor and Francis
Has part
Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, Vol. 30
ADA compliance
For Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation, including help with reading this content, please contact scholarshare@temple.edu