Studies and Findings

Studies on barriers to access to safe, legal abortion

Gestational age limit

De Zordo S, Zanini G, Mishtal J, Garnsey C, Ziegler A. K, Gerdts C. Gestational age limits for abortion and cross-border reproductive care in Europe: a mixed-methods study. BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2020. https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.16534
De Zordo S, Mishtal J, Zanini G, Gerdts C. Consequences of gestational age limits for people needing abortion care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters 2020; 28: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26410397.2020.181837
Pinter B, Aubeny E, Bartfai G, Loeber O, Ozalp S, Webb A. Accessibility and availability of abortion in six European countries. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2005; 10: 51–8. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13625180500035231

Mandatory Waiting Period

Heller R, Purcell C, Mackay L, Caird L, Cameron ST. Barriers to accessing termination of pregnancy in a remote and rural setting: a qualitative study. BJOG An Int J Obstet Gynaecol 2016; 123: 1684–91.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14117/abstract

Jones RK, Henshaw SK. Mifepristone for Early Medical Abortion: Experiences in France, Great Britain and Sweden. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2002; 34: 154–61. https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2002/05/mifepristone-early-medical-abortion-experiences-france-great-britain-and
Pinter B, Aubeny E, Bartfai G, Loeber O, Ozalp S, Webb Accessibility and availability of abortion in six European countries. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2005; 10: 51–8. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13625180500035231

Conscientious objection

Andión-Ibañez X, Zampas C. Conscientious Objection to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services: International Human Rights Standards and European Law and Practice. Eur J Health Law 2012; 19: 231–56.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22916532

Berer M. Termination of pregnancy as emergency obstetric care: the interpretation of Catholic health policy and the consequences for pregnant women: an analysis of the death of Savita Halappanavar in Ireland and similar cases. Reprod Health Matters 2013; 21: 9–17.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23684182

Bo M, Zotti CM, Charrier L. Conscientious objection and waiting time for voluntary abortion in Italy. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2015; 20: 272–82.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25592398

Campbell M. Conscientious objection and the Council of Europe: The right to conscientious objection in lawful medical care Resolution 1763 (2010) Resolution adopted by the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly. Med Law Rev 2011; 19: 467–75.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21798996

Chavkin W, Leitman L, Polin K, for Global Doctors for Choice. Conscientious objection and refusal to provide reproductive healthcare: A White Paper examining prevalence, health consequences, and policy responses. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2013; 123: S41–56.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24332234

Chavkin W, Swerdlow L, Fifield J. Regulation of conscientious objection to abortion: An international comparative multiple-case study. Health Hum Rights 2017; 19: 55–68. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5473038/
Cook R, Dickens BM. The Growing Abuse of Conscientious Objection. Ethics J Am Med Assoc 2006; 8: 337–40. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23232431

De Zordo S. Interruption volontaire de grossesse et clause de conscience en Italie et en Espagne, entre droits des femmes et « droits » du fœtus/patient. Sociol Santé; 38: 107–29.
De Zordo S, Mishtal J, Anton L. A Fragmented Landscape Abortion Governance and Protest Logics in Europe. Berghahn Books, 2016. https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/DeZordoFragmented

Fiala C, Arthur JH. ‘Dishonourable disobedience’ – Why refusal to treat in reproductive healthcare is not conscientious objection. Woman – Psychosom Gynaecol Obstet 2014; 1: 12–23.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213560X14000034

Fiala C, Arthur JH. There is no defence for ‘Conscientious objection’ in reproductive health care. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2017; published online July 23.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28757115

Fiala C, Gemzell Danielsson K, Heikinheimo O, Guðmundsson JA, Arthur J. Yes we can! Successful examples of disallowing ‘conscientious objection’ in reproductive health care. Eur J Contracept Reprod Heal Care 2016; 21: 201–6.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26838273

Heino A, Gissler M, Apter D, Fiala C. Conscientious objection and induced abortion in Europe. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2013; 18: 231–3.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23848269

Kibsgaard Nordberg EM, Skirbekk H, Magelssen M. Conscientious objection to referrals for abortion: pragmatic solution or threat to women’s rights? BMC Med Ethics 2014; 15.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24571955

Lertxundi R, Ibarrondo O, Merki-Feld GS, Rey-Novoa M, Rowlands S, Mar J. Proposal to inform European institutions regarding the regulation of conscientious objection to abortion. Eur J Contracept Reprod Heal Care 2016; 213: 198–200.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26986562

Mishtal, J.Z. Matters of ‘Conscience’: The Politics of Reproductive Health and Rights in Poland. Medical Anthropology Quarterly 2009; 23(2):161-183.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19562954

Mishtal, J. Reproductive Governance in the New Europe: Competing Visions of Morality, Sovereignty, and Supranational Policy. Anthropological Journal of European Cultures 2014, 23(1):59-76.
https://www.berghahnjournals.com/abstract/journals/ajec/23/1/ajec230104.xml

Morrell KM, Chavkin W. Conscientious objection to abortion and reproductive healthcare: a review of recent literature and implications for adolescents. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2015; 27: 333–8.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26241174

Opinion N° 4-2005: The right to conscientious objection and the conclusion by EU member states of concordats with the Holy See. 2005 https://ec.europa.eu/justice/fundamental-rights/files/cfr_cdfopinion4_2005_en.pdf.
Roe J, Francome C, Bush M. Recruitment and training of British obstetrician-gynaecologists for abortion provision: conscientious objection versus opting out. Reprod Health Matters 1999; 7: 97–105.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(99)90010-1

Strickland SL. Conscientious objection in medical students: a questionnaire survey. J Med Ethics 2011; 38: 22–5.
https://jme.bmj.com/content/38/1/22

Stigma

Chełstowska A. Stigmatisation and commercialisation of abortion services in Poland: turning sin into gold. Reprod Health Matters 2011; 19: 98–106.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21555090

De Zordo S. From women’s ‘irresponsibility’ to foetal ‘patienthood’: Obstetricians-gynaecologists’ perspectives on abortion and its stigmatisation in Italy and Cataluña. Glob Public Heal An Int J Res Policy Pract 2017; 1–13.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28278744

De Zordo S, Mishtal J. Physicians and Abortion: Provision, Political Participation and Conflicts on the Ground-The Cases of Brazil and Poland. Women’s Heal Issues 2011; 21: S32–6.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21530836

Purcell C, Cameron S, Caird L, et al. Access to and experience of later abortion: accounts from women in Scotland. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2014; 46: 101–8.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1363/46e1214/full

Purcell C, Hilton S, Mcdaid L. The stigmatisation of abortion: a qualitative analysis of print media in Great Britain in 2010. Cult Health Sex 2014; 16.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25115952
Welsh P, McCarthy M, Cromer B. Abortion in Adolescence: A Four-Country Comparison. Women’s Health Issues 2001; 11: 73–9.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11275509
Hoggart L, Newton VL, Bury L. Repeat abortion’, a phrase to be avoided? Qualitative insights into labelling and stigma. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2017; 43:26-30.
https://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/43/1/26

Other barriers

Baron C, Cameron S, Johnstone A. Do women seeking termination of pregnancy need pre-abortion counselling? Fam Plann Reprod Heal Care 2015; 45: 181–5.
https://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/41/3/181

Cochrane RA, Cameron ST. Attitudes of Scottish abortion care providers towards provision of abortion after 16 weeks’ gestation within Scotland. Eur J Contracept Reprod Heal Care 2013; 18: 215–20.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23521135

De Zordo S, Mishtal J. Physicians and Abortion: Provision, Political Participation and Conflicts on the Ground-The Cases of Brazil and Poland. Women’s Heal Issues 2011; 21: S32–6.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21530836

Doran F, Nancarrow S. Barriers and facilitators of access to first-trimester abortion services for women in the developed world: a systematic review. J Fam Plan Reprod Heal Care 2015; 41: 170–80.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26106103

Francome C, Freeman E. British general practitioners’ attitudes toward Abortion. Fam Plann Perspect 2000; 32: 189–91.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10942355

Grimes DA, Benson J, Singh S, et al. Unsafe abortion: the preventable pandemic. Lancet 2006; 368: 1908–19.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673606694816/abstract

Heller R, Purcell C, Mackay L, Caird L, Cameron ST. Barriers to accessing termination of pregnancy in a remote and rural setting: a qualitative study. BJOG An Int J Obstet Gynaecol 2016; 123: 1684–91.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14117/abstract

Jones RK, Henshaw SK. Mifepristone for Early Medical Abortion: Experiences in France, Great Britain and Sweden. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2002; 34: 154–61. https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2002/05/mifepristone-early-medical-abortion-experiences-france-great-britain-and
Lee E, Ingham R. Why do women present late for induced abortion? Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2010; 24: 479–89.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20338814

Lohr PA. Surgical Abortion in the Second Trimester. Reprod Health Matters 2008; 16: 31–151.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18772096

Marie Stopes International. General practitioners: attitudes to abortion 2007. 2007. https://www.shnwales.org.uk/Documents/485/Report,%20GPs%20attitudes%20to%20abortion%202007%20Marie%20Stopes.pdf
Moreau C, Bajos N, Bouyer J, Group C. Access to health care for induced abortions Analysis by means of a French national survey. Eur J Public Health 2004; 14: 369–74.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15546817

Pinter B, Aubeny E, Bartfai G, Loeber O, Ozalp S, Webb A. Accessibility and availability of abortion in six European countries. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2005; 10: 51–8. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13625180500035231

Addressing barriers

Rowlands S, López-Arregui E. How health services can improve access to abortion. Eur J Contracept Reprod Heal Care 2015; 5187: 1–3.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26556640

Caird L, Cameron ST, Hough T, Mackay L, Glasier A. Initiatives to close the gap in inequalities in abortion provision in a remote and rural UK setting. J Fam Plan Reprod Heal Care 2015; 42: 68 LP-70.
https://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/42/1/68

Studies on abortion travel in Europe

Aiken ARA, Gomperts R, Trussell J. Experiences and characteristics of women seeking and completing at-home medical termination of pregnancy through online telemedicine in Ireland and Northern Ireland: a population-based analysis. BJOG An Int J Obstet Gynaecol 2017; 124: 1208–15.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27748001

Best A. Abortion Rights along the Irish-English Border and the Liminality of Women’s Experiences. Dialect Anthropol 2005; 29: 423–37.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10624-005-3863-x

Bloomer F, O’Dowd K. Restricted access to abortion in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland: exploring abortion tourism and barriers to legal reform. Health Sex. 2014; 16: 366–80.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24617662

Caird L, Cameron ST, Hough T, Mackay L, Glasier A. Initiatives to close the gap in inequalities in abortion provision in a remote and rural UK setting. J Fam Plan Reprod Heal Care 2015; 42: 68 LP-70.
https://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/42/1/68

Cameron ST, Riddell J, Brown A, et al. Characteristics of women who present for abortion towards the end of the mid-trimester in Scotland: national audit 2013–2014. Eur J Contracept Reprod Heal Care 2016; 21: 183–8 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26568404
Francome C, Freeman E. British general practitioners’ attitudes toward Abortion. Fam Plann Perspect 2000; 32: 189–91.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10942355

Francome C. Irish Women Who Seek Abortions in England. Fam Plann Perspect 1992; 24: 265–8.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2135856?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Gerdts C, De Zordo S, Mishtal J, Barr-Walker J, Lohr, Lohr PA. Experiences of women who travel to England for abortions: an exploratory pilot study. Eur J Contracept Reprod Heal Care 2016; 21: 401–7.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27539129

Gilmartin M, White A. Interrogating Medical Tourism: Ireland, Abortion, and Mobility Rights. Signs J Women Cult Soc 2010; 36: 275–80.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21114071

Heller R, Purcell C, Mackay L, Caird L, Cameron ST. Barriers to accessing termination of pregnancy in a remote and rural setting: a qualitative study. BJOG An Int J Obstet Gynaecol 2016; 123: 1684–91.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14117/abstract

Loeber O, Wijsen C. Factors Influencing the Percentage of Second Trimester Abortions in the Netherlands Factors Influencing the Percentage of Second Trimester Abortions in the Netherlands. Reprod Heal Matters 2008; 16: 31–30.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18772081

Purcell C, Cameron S, Caird L, et al. Access to and experience of later abortion: accounts from women in Scotland. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2014; 46: 101–8.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1363/46e1214/full

Pinter B, Aubeny E, Bartfai G, Loeber O, Ozalp S, Webb A. Accessibility and availability of abortion in six European countries. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2005; 10: 51–8.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13625180500035231

Rossiter A. Ireland’s hidden diaspora: the ‘abortion trail’ and the making of a London-Irish underground 1980–2000. IASC Publishing. 2009.
Rossiter A, Sexton M. The other Irish journey: A survey update of Northern Irish women attending British abortion clinics, 2000/2001. 2000. https://www.prochoiceforum.org.uk/download/irish_document.pdf

Studies on barriers to abortion care and abortion travel by country

France

Haut Conseil à l’Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes. Accès à l’avortement D’importants progrès réalisés, un accès réel qui peut encore être conforté. 2017
https://www.haut-conseil-egalite.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/hce_bilan_mise_en_oeuvre_recos_ivg_2017_01_17_vf.pdf

Haut Conseil à l’Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes. Rapport relatif à l’accès à l’IVG Volet 2: Accès à l’IVG dans les territoires. 2013
https://www.haut-conseil-egalite.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/rapport_ivg_volet2_v10-2.pdf

Jones RK, Henshaw SK. Mifepristone for Early Medical Abortion: Experiences in France, Great Britain and Sweden. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2002; 34: 154–61. https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2002/05/mifepristone-early-medical-abortion-experiences-france-great-britain-and
Moreau C, Bajos N, Bouyer J, Group C. Access to health care for induced abortions Analysis by means of a French national survey. Eur J Public Health 2004; 14: 369–74.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15546817

Pinter B, Aubeny E, Bartfai G, Loeber O, Ozalp S, Webb A. Accessibility and availability of abortion in six European countries. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2005; 10: 51–8. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13625180500035231

Ireland

Aiken ARA, Gomperts R, Trussell J. Experiences and characteristics of women seeking and completing at-home medical termination of pregnancy through online telemedicine in Ireland and Northern Ireland: a population-based analysis. BJOG An Int J Obstet Gynaecol 2017; 124: 1208–15.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27748001

Berer M. Termination of pregnancy as emergency obstetric care: the interpretation of Catholic health policy and the consequences for pregnant women:an analysis of the death of Savita Halappanavar in Ireland and similar cases. Reprod Health Matters 2013; 21: 9–17.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23684182

Best A. Abortion Rights along the Irish-English Border and the Liminality of Women’s Experiences. Dialect Anthropol 2005; 29: 423–37.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10624-005-3863-x

Bloomer F, O’Dowd K. Restricted access to abortion in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland: exploring abortion tourism and barriers to legal reform. Health Sex. 2014; 16: 366–80.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24617662

Gilmartin M, White A. Interrogating Medical Tourism: Ireland, Abortion, and Mobility Rights. Signs J Women Cult Soc 2010; 36: 275–80.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21114071

Mishtal J. Quiet Contestations of Irish Abortion Law: Abortion Politics in Flux? In: Transcending Borders: Abortion in the Past and Present, Pelgrave Macmillan 2017. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-48399-3_12

Rossiter A. Ireland’s hidden diaspora: the ‘abortion trail’ and the making of a London-Irish underground 1980–2000. IASC Publishing. 2009.
Rossiter A, Sexton M. The other Irish journey: A survey update of Northern Irish women attending British abortion clinics, 2000/2001. 2000. https://www.prochoiceforum.org.uk/download/irish_document.pdf
Smyth, L. ‘And Nobody Was Any the Wiser’: Irish Abortion Rights and the European Union. In: Sexual Politics and the European Union, Berghahn Books 1996: 109-130.

Poland

Chełstowska A. Stigmatisation and commercialisation of abortion services in Poland: turning sin into gold. Reprod Health Matters 2011; 19: 98–106.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21555090

Czerwinski A. Sex, Politics, and Religion: The Clash between Poland and the European Union over Abortion. Denver J Int Law Policy 2003; 32.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16482688

Federation for Women and Famly Planning. Reproductive Health Services in Poland: Country Report.
https://www.astra.org.pl/pdf/publications/POLAND.pdf

Girard, F, and W. Nowicka. Clear and Compelling Evidence: The Polish Tribunal on Abortion Rights. Reproductive Health Matters 2002; 10(19): 22–30.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12369330

Mishtal, J. The Politics of Morality: The Church, the State and Reproductive Rights in Postsocialist Poland. Ohio University Press 2015.
https://www.ohioswallow.com/book/The+Politics+of+Morality

Center for Reproductive Rights. Tysiac v. Poland (European Court of Human Rights). Cent Reprod Rights 2008.
https://www.reproductiverights.org/case/tysiac-v-poland-european-court-of-human-rights

Italy

Bo M, Zotti CM, Charrier L. Conscientious objection and waiting time for voluntary abortion in Italy. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2015; 20: 272–82.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25592398

Chavkin W, Swerdlow L, Fifield J. Regulation of conscientious objection to abortion: An international comparative multiple-case study. Health Hum Rights 2017; 19: 55–68. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5473038/
De Zordo S. From women’s ‘irresponsibility’ to foetal ‘patienthood’: Obstetricians-gynaecologists’ perspectives on abortion and its stigmatisation in Italy and Cataluña. Glob Public Heal An Int J Res Policy Pract 2017; March:1–13.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28278744

De Zordo S. Interruption volontaire de grossesse et clause de conscience en Italie et en Espagne, entre droits des femmes et « droits » du fœtus/patient. Sociol Santé; 38: 107–29.
De Zordo S. ‘Good doctors do not object’: Obstetricians-Gynaecolosists’ Perspectives on Conscientious Objection to Abortion Care and their Engagement with Pro-abortion Rights Protests in Italy. In: A Fragmented Landscape: Abortion Governance and Protest Logics in Europe. Oxford and New York: Berghahn Books, 2016
https://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/DeZordoFragmented#toc

Morrell KM, Chavkin W. Conscientious objection to abortion and reproductive healthcare: a review of recent literature and implications for adolescents. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2015; 27: 333–8.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26241174

Netherlands

Loeber O, Wijsen C. Factors Influencing the Percentage of Second Trimester Abortions in the Netherlands Factors Influencing the Percentage of Second Trimester Abortions in the Netherlands. Reprod Heal Matters 2008; 16: 31–30.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18772081

Pinter B, Aubeny E, Bartfai G, Loeber O, Ozalp S, Webb A. Accessibility and availability of abortion in six European countries. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2005; 10: 51–8.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13625180500035231

Welsh P, McCarthy M, Cromer B. Abortion in Adolescence: A Four-Country Comparison. Women’s Health Issues 2001; 11: 73–9.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11275509

Spain

De Zordo S. From women’s ‘irresponsibility’ to foetal ‘patienthood’: Obstetricians-gynaecologists’ perspectives on abortion and its stigmatisation in Italy and Cataluña. Glob Public Heal An Int J Res Policy Pract 2017: 1–13.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28278744

Baron C, Cameron S, Johnstone A. Do women seeking termination of pregnancy need pre-abortion counselling? Fam Plann Reprod Heal Care 2015; 45: 181–5.
https://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/41/3/181

Best A. Abortion Rights along the Irish-English Border and the Liminality of Women’s Experiences. Dialect Anthropol 2005; 29: 423–37.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10624-005-3863-x

Caird L, Cameron ST, Hough T, Mackay L, Glasier A. Initiatives to close the gap in inequalities in abortion provision in a remote and rural UK setting. J Fam Plan Reprod Heal Care 2015; 42: 68 LP-70.
https://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/42/1/68

Chavkin W, Swerdlow L, Fifield J. Regulation of conscientious objection to abortion: An international comparative multiple-case study. Health Hum Rights 2017; 19: 55–68. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5473038/
Cochrane RA, Cameron ST. Attitudes of Scottish abortion care providers towards provision of abortion after 16 weeks’ gestation within Scotland. Eur J Contracept Reprod Heal Care 2013; 18: 215–20.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23521135

Francome C. Irish Women Who Seek Abortions in England. Fam Plann Perspect 1992; 24: 265–8. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2135856?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Gerdts C, DeZordo S, Mishtal J, Barr-Walker J, Lohr, Lohr PA. Experiences of women who travel to England for abortions: an exploratory pilot study. Eur J Contracept Reprod Heal Care 2016; 21: 401–7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27539129

Heller R, Purcell C, Mackay L, Caird L, Cameron ST. Barriers to accessing termination of pregnancy in a remote and rural setting: a qualitative study. BJOG An Int J Obstet Gynaecol 2016; 123: 1684–91. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.14117/abstract

Jones RK, Henshaw SK. Mifepristone for Early Medical Abortion: Experiences in France, Great Britain and Sweden. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2002; 34: 154–61. https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2002/05/mifepristone-early-medical-abortion-experiences-france-great-britain-and

Lee E, Ingham R. Why do women present late for induced abortion? Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2010; 24: 479–89.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20338814

Marie Stopes International. General practitioners: attitudes to abortion 2007. 2007. https://www.shnwales.org.uk/Documents/485/Report, GPs attitudes to abortion 2007 Marie Stopes.pdf
Roe J, Francome C, Bush M. Recruitment and training of British obstetrician-gynaecologists for abortion provision: conscientious objection versus opting out. Reprod Health Matters 1999; 7: 97–105.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0968-8080(99)90010-1

Purcell C, Cameron S, Caird L, et al. Access to and experience of later abortion: accounts from women in Scotland. Perspect Sex Reprod Health 2014; 46: 101–8.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1363/46e1214/full

Purcell C, Hilton S, Mcdaid L. The stigmatisation of abortion: a qualitative analysis of print media in Great Britain in 2010. Cult Health Sex 2014; 16.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25115952

Strickland SL. Conscientious objection in medical students: a questionnaire survey. J Med Ethics 2011; 38: 22–5.
https://jme.bmj.com/content/38/1/22

Data and statistics on abortion from countries of interest

France

DREES (Direction de la recherche, des études de l’évaluation et des statistiques). 211 900 interruptions volontaires de grossesse en 2016. 2017 https://drees.solidarites-sante.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/er_1013.pdf

Germany

The Federal Health Monitoring System. Abortions. Fed. Stat. Off. https://www.destatis.de/EN/FactsFigures/SocietyState/Health/Abortions/Abortions.html#Tabellen

Italy

Ministry of Health. Induced abortions – Migration. stats. 2015. https://dati.istat.it/Index.aspx?lang=en&SubSessionId=e753d38d-ebd7-43cc-baa9-83f52d3dc3f1&themetreeid=36
Italia, Ministero della Salute (2016) Relazione sull’attuazione della Legge contenente norme per la tutela della tutela sociale della maternità e per l’interruzione volontaria della gravidanza. Dati definitivi 2014-2015. Roma: Ministero della Salute. https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/documentazione/p6_2_2_1.jsp?lingua=italiano&id=2552
Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Interruzione volontaria di gravidanza: la relazione al Parlamento 2014
https://www.epicentro.iss.it/problemi/ivg/Relazione2014.asp

Netherlands

IGZ, “Jaarrapportage 2012 van de wet afbreking zwangerschap,” IGZ (Netherlands). https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2013/12/06/jaarrapportage-2012-van-de-wet-afbreking-zwangerschap
Annual Report 2015 of the Maternity Pregnancy Act. 2017 https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2017/02/09/jaarrapportage-2015-van-de-wet-afbreking-zwangerschap (accessed July 30, 2017).

Spain

Ministerio de Sanidad SS e I. Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad – Profesionales – Interrupción voluntaria del embarazo – Datos Estadísticos – Tablas y Figuras. Minist. Sanidad, Serv. Soc. e Igual. https://www.msssi.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/prevPromocion/embarazo/tablas_figuras.htm
Gobierno de España, 2016. Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad, Interrupción Voluntaria del Embarazo: Datos definitivos correspondientes al año 2015. https://www.msssi.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/prevPromocion/embarazo/docs/IVE_2015.pdf

Department of Health. 2016. Abortion statistics, England and Wales: 2015. London: Abortion Statistics, DH.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/abortion-statistics-england-and-wales-2015.

UK, Department of Health. 2017. Abortion statistics England and Wales: 2016. London: Abortion Statistics, DH.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/report-on-abortion-statistics-in-england-and-wales-for-2016

Abortion laws and legal documents

Studies on abortion laws

Czerwinski A. Sex, Politics, and Religion: The Clash between Poland and the European Union over Abortion. Denver J Int Law Policy 2003; 32. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16482688
Gerdts C, DePiñeres T, Hajri S, et al. Denial of abortion in legal settings. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2015; 41: 161–3 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25511805
Gissler M, Fronteira I, Jahn A, et al. Terminations of pregnancy in the European Union. BJOG An Int J Obstet Gynaecol 2012; 119: 324–32. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22129480
Mishtal J. Quiet Contestations of Irish Abortion Law: Abortion Politics in Flux? In: Transcending Borders: Abortion in the Past and Present, Pelgrave Macmillan 2017.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-48399-3_12

Mishtal, J. The Politics of Morality: The Church, the State and Reproductive Rights in Postsocialist Poland. Ohio University Press 2015.
https://www.ohioswallow.com/book/The+Politics+of+Morality

Pinter B. Medico-legal aspects of abortion in Europe. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care 2002; 7: 15–9.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12041859

European level laws and legal documents

European Committee of Social Rights. Decision on the merits: International Planned Parenthood Federation – European Network (IPPF v. Italy). Brussels, Belgium, 2014.
https://hudoc.esc.coe.int/eng/?i=cc-87-2012-dmerits-en

IPPF European Network. Abortion legislation in Europe. Brussels, Belgium: International Planned Parenthood Federation, 2012
https://www.ippfen.org/resource/abortion-legislation-europe

Country level laws and legal documents

Belgium
- La loi du 15 octobre 2018 encadre l’interruption volontaire de grossesse. http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=fr&la=F&cn=2018101503&table_name=loi
France
- Loi n° 75-17 du 17 janvier 1975 relative à l’interruption volontaire de la grossesse. 2013
  https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000700230&dateTexte=20130913
- Article L. 2212-1 du Code de la Santé Publique. 2016.
  https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichCodeArticle.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006072665&idArticle=LEGIARTI000006687520&dateTexte=&categorieLien=cid
- Loi 2016-41 du 26 janvier 2016 de modernisation de notre système de santé. 2016.
  https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/eli/loi/2016/1/26/AFSX1418355L/jo/texte

Germany
- Gesetz zur Vermeidung und Bewältigung von Schwangerschaftskonflikten (Schwangerschaftskonfliktgesetz – SchKG) available here: https://www.buzer.de/gesetz/6462/index.htm
- Strafgesetzbuch (StGB), § 218 Schwangerschaftsabbruch und § 219 Beratung der Schwangeren in einer Not- und Konfliktlage available here: https://www.buzer.de/s1.htm?g=StGB&a=218-219b

Italy
- Legge 194/78 “Norme per la tutela sociale della maternità e per l’interruzione volontaria di gravidanza”. 1978.
  https://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_normativa_845_allegato.pdf
- Ministero della Salute. Linee di Indirizzo sulla Interruzione Volontaria di Gravidanza con mifepristone e prostaglandine. 2010
  https://www.salute.gov.it/imgs/C_17_pubblicazioni_1302_allegato.pdf

Ireland
- Sheldon S. ‘How can a state control swallowing?’: Medical abortion and the law. 2016.
  https://www.kent.ac.uk/law/mabal/Medical Abortion and the Law_web.pdf
- The Citizen’s Assembly. First Report and Recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly: The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. 2017.
  https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/The-Eighth-Amendment-of-the-Constitution/Final-Report-on-the-Eighth-Amendment-of-the-Constitution/Final-Report-incl-Appendix-A-D.pdf
- Center for Reproductive Rights. A, B and C v. Ireland. Cent Reprod Rights 2012. https://www.reproductiverights.org/sites/crr.civicactions.net/files/documents/crr_ABC_Factsheet.pdf

Netherlands
- Wet afbreking zwangerschap. Overheid.nl, 1981
  https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0003396/2011-10-10

Poland
- Ustawa z dnia 7 stycznia 1993 r. o planowaniu rodziny, ochronie płodu ludzkiego i warunkach dopuszczalności przerywania ciąży.
  https://www.reproductiverights.org/case/tysiac-v-poland-european-court-of-human-rights
Spain
- Ley Orgánica 2/2010, de 3 de marzo, de salud sexual y reproductiva y de la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo. 2010 https://www.msssi.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/prevPromocion/embarazo/docs/LeyOrg_2_10.pdf
- Ley Orgánica 11/2015, de 21 de septiembre, para reforzar la protección de las menores y mujeres con capacidad modificada judicialmente en la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo. 2015
  https://www.msssi.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/prevPromocion/embarazo/docs/LeyOrg11_2015.pdf

UK
- Abortion Act of 1967. 1967.
  https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1967/87

Our findings

De Zordo S, Mishtal J, Zanini G, Gerdts C. 2020. Consequences of gestational age limits for people needing abortion care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters 28(1): 1818377. https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1818377
De Zordo S, Zanini G, Mishtal J, Garnsey C, Ziegler A. K, Gerdts C. 2020. Gestational age limits for abortion and cross-border reproductive care in Europe: a mixed-methods study. BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 128(5): 838-845. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16534
Garnsey C., Zanini G., De Zordo S., Mishtal J., Wollum A., Gerdts C. 2021. “Cross-country abortion travel to England and Wales: results from a cross-sectional survey exploring people’s experiences crossing borders to obtain care”. Reproductive Health 18: 103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01158-z
Mishtal J, De Zordo S, Capelli I, Martino A, Rahm L, Zanini G. 2020. Political (in)action in abortion governance during COVID-19 in Europe: a call for a harmonized EU response during public health crises. Medical Anthropology Quarterly. http://medanthroquarterly.org/2020/06/19/political-inaction-in-abortion-governance-during-covid-19-in-europe-a-call-for-a-harmonized-eu-response-during-public-health-crises/
Mishtal J, Zanini G, De Zordo S, Clougher D, Gerdts C. 2022. To be vigilant to leave no trace’: secrecy, invisibility and abortion travel from the Republic of Ireland. Culture, Health & Sexuality. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2022.2107704
Rahm L, De Zordo S, Mishtal J, Garnsey C, Gerdts C. 2022. Inter-departmental abortion travels in metropolitan France: A mixed-methods analysis of women’s experiences, access, and barriers to abortion care. PLOS ONE 17(10): e0273190. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273190
Zanini G, Mishtal J, De Zordo S, Ziegler AK, Gerdts C. 2021. Abortion information governance and women’s travels across European borders. Women’s Studies International Forum, 87: 102496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2021.102496
Rahm L, De Zordo S, Mishtal J, et al. 2023. French women’s experiences and opinions with in-country versus cross-border abortion travel: a mixed-methods paper. BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health, Published Online: 24 January 2023. https://srh.bmj.com/content/early/2023/01/23/bmjsrh-2022-201712.full
De Zordo S, Mishtal J, Zanini G, Gerdts C. 2023. ‘The first difficulty is time’: The impact of gestational age limits on reproductive health and justice in the context of cross-border travel for abortion care in Europe. Social Science & Medicine 321, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115760

Comparta su historia

Somos conscientes de las grandes dificultades a las que se enfrentan las mujeres que desean interrumpir su embarazo en Europa. Por eso le invitamos a compartir su experiencia con el equipo de proyecto. Con su ayuda, podremos mejorar el estudio y crear información de utilidad común.

Si desea compartir sus vivencias respecto a las dificultades para acceder a una interrupción del embarazo o a viajes para interrumpir el embarazo, por favor, utilice el formulario de la derecha.

Si marca la casilla: “Doy mi consentimiento para compartir mi historia con el equipo de investigación con fines de investigación en los términos descritos en el lado izquierdo”, las investigadoras utilizarán su historia para analizar las barreras para el acceso a la interrupción del embarazo segura y legal que obliga a las mujeres a buscar interrumpir su embarazo de forma ilegal o a viajar para obtener asistencia a la interrupción del embarazo, y sus vivencias al respecto.

Si también marca la casilla: “Doy mi consentimiento para publicar mi historia en esta sección”, eliminaremos cualquier dato identificativo de su historia y la publicaremos en esta sección, sólo con su nombre de usuario o el país (si se proporciona).

NOTA:
Puede elegir un apodo para evitar el uso de su nombre real. No recopilamos datos personales, pero si accidentalmente se proporcionase algún dato personal en su historia la información se guarda en un archivo protegido de “Proyectos de investigación, desarrollo e innovación con datos personales de alto nivel” en la Universidad de Barcelona, con la única finalidad de hacer que su historia sea anónima mediante la eliminación de los datos personales y, a continuación, se eliminará la historia original enviada. Únicamente podremos guardar y publicar la versión anónima en este sitio web solo si usted da su consentimiento para que su historia sea publicada marcando la casilla correspondiente. Solo las investigadoras que administran esta página web tienen acceso al contenido.

El órgano responsable de dicho archivo es la Secretaria General de la Universidad de Barcelona, ubicada en: Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes, 585, 08007 Barcelona; correo electrónico: secretaria.general@ub.edu. Tiene derecho a acceder y recibir los datos en un archivo (por ejemplo Word, PDF) durante el período del estudio (5 años). También puede solicitar que las investigadoras dejen de examinar esta información, o pedir que se corrijan o eliminen sus datos hasta seis meses después de participar en el estudio, enviando por correo electrónico su solicitud al proyecto: bar2legab@ub.eduo a la investigadora principal, la Dra. Silvia De Zordo: silviadezordo@ub.edu. Por favor, indique su apodo en el correo electrónico.