Progress and Barriers in Accessing Legal Abortion Services in Argentina

Georgina Binstock, Centro de Estudios de Poblacion
Sarah Keogh, Guttmacher Institute
Mailén Perez Tort, Centro de Estudios de Poblacion
Susheela D. Singh, Guttmacher Institute

In 2021, Argentina passed an abortion law that grants the right to abortion on-request up to 14 weeks’ gestation, and continue to allow abortion after 14 weeks on specific grounds. Based on a survey of 223 public health facilities in three provinces conducted in July 2022 to January 2023, the aim of this e paper is to assess the progress and identify the barriers in the first two years of the implementation of the law. We collected information on abortion services, resources, personnel, training, and obstacles to provision. Results show that facilities adhered to protocols, had adequate supplies and equipment, and kept comprehensive records. The majority of abortions were conducted with misoprostol, and 10% with MVA. The greatest barrier to service provision was insufficient personnel to meet demand, due to high levels of conscientious objection, as well as lack of training in methods other than misoprostol, particularly at primary level. The paper discusses advance, as well as the recent new challenges faced with the new government that took office in December 2013 that has openly expressed opposition to abortion and has already begun to implement substantial budget cuts in public programs, including those that support reproductive health care.

Keywords: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

See paper.