Restrictive Abortion Regulation

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Estimates from 2006 show that complications of unsafe abortions cost health systems in developing countries US$ 553 million per year for post-abortion treatments. In addition, households experienced US$ 922 million in loss of income due to long-term disability related to unsafe abortion (8). Countries and health systems could make substantial monetary savings by providing greater access to modern contraception and quality-induced abortion (6, 7). A set of scoping reviews from 2021 indicate that abortion regulations – by being linked to fertility – affect women's education, participation in the labor market, and positive contribution to GDP growth.
The legal status of abortion can also affect children's educational outcomes, and their earnings on the labor market later in life. For example, the legalization of abortion – by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies and thus increasing the likelihood that children are born wanted – can be linked to greater parental investments in  Albania Email ListAlbania Email List children, including in girls' schooling (7). Expanding quality abortion care Evidence shows that restricting access to abortions does not reduce the number of abortions (1); however, it does affect whether the abortions that women and girls attain are safe and dignified. The proportion of unsafe abortions is significantly higher in countries with highly restrictive abortion laws than in countries with less restrictive laws (2).

Barriers to accessing safe and respectful abortion include high costs, the stigma for those seeking abortions and health care workers, and the refusal of health workers to provide an abortion based on personal conscience or religious belief. Access is further impeded by restrictive laws and requirements that are not medically justified, including criminalization of abortion, mandatory waiting periods, provision of biased information or counseling, third-party authorization, and restrictions regarding the type of health care providers or facilities that can provide abortion services. Multiple actions are needed at the legal, health system, and community levels so that everyone who needs abortion care has access to it.