The Intersection of Abortion and Criminalization: Abortion Access for People in Prisons

Abstract

Most incarcerated women are of reproductive age, and more than a third of women will have an abortion during their reproductive years. Although women are the fastest growing population in Canadian prisons, no one has studied the effect of their incarceration on access to abortion services. Studies outside of Canada indicate rates of abortion are higher among people experiencing incarceration than in the general population, and that abortion access is often problematic. Although international standards for abortion care among incarcerated populations exist, there conversely appear to be no Canadian guidelines or procedures to facilitate unintended pregnancy prevention or management. Barriers to abortion care inequitably restrict people with unintended pregnancy from attaining education and employment opportunities, cause entrenchment in violent relationships, and prevent people from choosing to parent when they are ready and able. Understanding and facilitating equitable access to abortion care for incarcerated people is critical to address structural, gender-, and race-based reproductive health inequities, and to promote reproductive justice. There is an urgent need for research in this area to direct best practices in clinical care and support policies capable to ensure equal access to abortion care for incarcerated people.

Seeking support for abortion care from national hotlines in Canada: Caller characteristics and call outcomes, 2019–2021

“…That these callers were largely seeking financial support for travel or to cover procedure costs reflects gaps in the current abortion care landscape. Our results support the chorus of voices in Canada that advocate for ensuring that provincial health insurance schemes cover abortion care irrespective of facility type, enforcing the portability requirement of the Canada Health Act, and expanding the provincial, territorial, and federal definitions of cost coverage to include costs associated with travel and accommodations 12,16,28,29 …”

“…Our results support the chorus of voices in Canada that advocate for ensuring that provincial health insurance schemes cover abortion care irrespective of facility type, enforcing the portability requirement of the Canada Health Act, and expanding the provincial, territorial, and federal definitions of cost coverage to include costs associated with travel and accommodations. 12,16,28,29 Our results also indicate that there is a need to fortify abortion services after the first trimester in Canada. Gestational age limits in Canada are not a function of criminal law or federal regulation.…”