Access, equity and costs of induced abortion services in Australia: a cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Abortion costs are substantial, increase at later gestations, and are a financial strain for many women. Poor knowledge, geographical and financial barriers restrict method choice. Implications for public health: Policy reform should focus on reducing costs and enhancing early access.

A direct‐to‐patient telemedicine abortion service in Australia: Retrospective analysis of the first 18 months

“…In 2013 mifepristone and misoprostol were added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which subsidises the cost of the drugs. Nevertheless, by 2016 use of medical abortion was substantially less than anticipated, and obtaining medical abortion remains difficult for many Australian women …”

Snapshot of medication abortion provision in the primary health care setting of regional and rural Victoria

“…Further, few primary health care nurses (PHCNs) are currently involved in the medication abortion process, a strategy that has globally become a key solution to improve women's access to safe abortion services . Previous Australian research was limited to studies exploring the provision of MA service, as experienced by women and qualitative studies exploring factors affecting the MA uptake from the perspectives of primary health care providers . To add to the existing literature, this study used a quantitative approach to identify enablers and barriers that determine the decision of GPs and PHCNs from regional and rural areas of Victoria to become an MA provider.…”

Knowledge of current abortion law and views on abortion law reform: a community survey of NSW residents

“…For NSW women, accessing abortion is likely to remain challenging, especially for those in regional and rural areas. Despite hope that PBS subsidisation of medical abortion would make abortion much more accessible, 9,10 uptake of medical abortion is still relatively low and the majority of women choose surgical abortion 11 . Surgical abortion, however, remains mainly limited to large metropolitan centres where abortion is provided through a number of clinics that operate as fee‐for‐service clinics, as most public hospitals do not provide abortion in NSW.…”

“…A total of 34% of women said they found it difficult/very difficult to pay for the abortion. Women who experienced difficulties paying for the abortion were more likely to present for later abortion, suggesting that access remains a barrier to timely abortion provision 11 …”

“…Women who experienced difficulties paying for the abortion were more likely to present for later abortion, suggesting that access remains a barrier to timely abortion provision. 11 Abortion law reform will not immediately resolve all issues with access. Nonetheless, decriminalisation and protection from harassment are likely to improve access, especially in regional and rural areas of NSW, since medical practitioners who are willing to provide abortion currently lack certainty about being able to do so without risk of criminal prosecution for themselves and their patients.…”