ArticleReproductive health2021
"We don't want problems": reasons for denial of legal abortion based on conscientious objection in Mexico and Bolivia.
Article in Reproductive health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Determinants of Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health for Adolescent Girls in Vulnerable Situations in Latin America.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Pooled it
- What do medical students think about conscientious objection? A cross-sectional study from Turkey.BMC medical education · 2025Article
- Choosing to Provide: Early Medical Abortion and Clinician Conscience in Ireland.Health care analysis : HCA : journal of health philosophy and policy · 2024Article
- Definitions, perspectives, and reasons for conscientious objection among healthcare workers, facility managers, and staff in South Africa: a qualitative study.Sexual and reproductive health matters · 2023Article
- Reach, experience, and acceptability of an abortion self-care intervention in Bolivia: a mixed-methods evaluation.Sexual and reproductive health matters · 2023Article
- A narrative review of challenges related to healthcare worker rights, roles and responsibilities in the provision of sexual and reproductive services in health facilities.BMJ global health · 2023Review
- Extra-legal abortion and post-abortion care knowledge, attitudes, and practices among obstetrician-gynecologist clinicians and medical residents in San José, Costa Rica: a qualitative study.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Article
- Main barriers to services linked to voluntary pregnancy termination on three grounds in Chile.Frontiers in public health · 2023Article
- Stigma towards women requesting abortion and association with health facility staff facilitation and obstruction of abortion care in South Africa.Frontiers in global women's health · 2023Article
- The Opinions of Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology on the Indications for Pregnancy Termination in Poland-A Preliminary Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Health providers' reasons for participating in abortion care: A scoping review.Women's health (London, England)Article
- Institutional objection to abortion: A mixed-methods narrative review.Women's health (London, England)Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe misuse of conscientious objection (CO) is a significant barrier to legal abortion access in many countries, especially in Latin America. We examine the reasons for denial of legal abortion services in Mexico and Bolivia and identify ways to mitigate the misuse of CO.
methodsWe conducted 34 in-depth interviews and 12 focus group discussions in two states in Mexico and four departments in Bolivia. Results were coded and categorized using a thematic analysis approach.
resultsDenial of abortion services based on CO is widespread in health facilities in Mexico and Bolivia and is primarily employed for reasons other than moral, religious, or ethical considerations. The main reasons for denial of services based on CO is lack of knowledge about abortion-related laws and fear of legal problems in abortion service provision. Conversely, the main reason to provide services is to comply with relevant laws. Denying services under the guise of CO negatively impacts pregnant people and health care teams, including fewer safe abortion options and increased workload and stigma, respectively. Most respondents cited training and education on abortion law as the foremost way to mitigate the negative impacts of the misuse of CO.
conclusionsFor many health personnel, knowing, understanding, and following the law is reason enough to provide abortion services. Individuals who object due to lack of knowledge about laws and fear of legal problems represent a key population that can be sensitized and equipped with the necessary information and resources to provide legal abortion services.
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