TY - JOUR
T1 - The impact of mandatory waiting periods on abortion-related outcomes
T2 - a synthesis of legal and health evidence
AU - de Londras, Fiona
AU - Cleeve, Amanda
AU - Rodriguez, Maria I
AU - Farrell, Alana
AU - Furgalska, Magdalena
AU - Lavelanet , Antonella
N1 - © The Author(s) 2022
PY - 2022/6/21
Y1 - 2022/6/21
N2 - This review follows an established methodology for integrating human rights to address knowledge gaps related to the health and non-health outcomes of mandatory waiting periods (MWPs) for access to abortion. MWP is a requirement imposed by law, policy, or practice, to wait a specified amount of time between requesting and receiving abortion care. Recognizing that MWPs “demean[] women as competent decision-makers”, the World Health Organization recommends against MWPs. International human rights bodies have similarly encouraged states to repeal and not to introduce MWPs, which they recognize as operating as barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare. This review of 34 studies published between 2010 and 2021, together with international human rights law, establishes the health and non-health harms of MWPs for people seeking abortion, including delayed abortion, opportunity costs, and disproportionate impact. Impacts on abortion providers include increased workloads and system costs
AB - This review follows an established methodology for integrating human rights to address knowledge gaps related to the health and non-health outcomes of mandatory waiting periods (MWPs) for access to abortion. MWP is a requirement imposed by law, policy, or practice, to wait a specified amount of time between requesting and receiving abortion care. Recognizing that MWPs “demean[] women as competent decision-makers”, the World Health Organization recommends against MWPs. International human rights bodies have similarly encouraged states to repeal and not to introduce MWPs, which they recognize as operating as barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare. This review of 34 studies published between 2010 and 2021, together with international human rights law, establishes the health and non-health harms of MWPs for people seeking abortion, including delayed abortion, opportunity costs, and disproportionate impact. Impacts on abortion providers include increased workloads and system costs
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-022-13620-z
DO - 10.1186/s12889-022-13620-z
M3 - Article
SN - 0033-3506
VL - 22
JO - Public Health
JF - Public Health
M1 - 1232
ER -