Second trimester abortion laws globally: actuality, trends and recommendations

Area of Science:

• Medical Law
• Public Health
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Second trimester abortions represent a significant proportion of all abortions performed globally.
• Existing laws regarding abortion access, particularly in the second trimester, vary considerably worldwide and are often restrictive.
• There are compelling medical and personal reasons necessitating second trimester abortions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and categorize the laws of 191 countries concerning second trimester abortions.
• To analyze legal indications for abortion, including life/health preservation, sex offenses, fetal impairment, socio-economic factors, and on-request abortions.
• To propose legislative and regulatory reforms to better address women's needs for safe, accessible second trimester abortions.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive review of abortion legislation in 191 countries.
• Categorization of laws based on legal indications for abortion.
• Analysis of legal restrictions and potential reform pathways.

Main Results:

• Significant global variation in legal indications and restrictions for second trimester abortions.
• Many countries lack specific provisions or have restrictive laws for second trimester abortions.
• Current legal frameworks often do not adequately accommodate the reasons women seek later abortions.

Conclusions:

• Legislative and regulatory reforms are needed to improve access to safe second trimester abortions.
• Recommendations focus on ensuring safe procedures, encouraging early abortions, and removing unnecessary legal barriers.
• While full decriminalization may be distant, incremental reforms can enhance women's reproductive health and safety.