"…our goal is to avoid abortions whenever possible.": A qualitative study on clinical and structural barriers to abortion in Mongolia in 2025
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Published on: February 3, 2026
Hilary M Schwandt1, Burenjargal Tegshee2, Oyuntsetseg Dugarsuren2
1Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA. hilary.schwandt@wwu.edu.
Background:
There are a number of structural barriers to abortion in Mongolia including limitations on who can provide abortions and where, exaggerated fears of abortion infertility, particularly for minors, cost of the procedure, and required pre procedure clinical tests.
Methods:
This 2025 qualitative study utilized 24 in depth interviews with abortion clients, male partners of abortion clients, and abortion providers to better understand clinical and structural barriers to abortion in Mongolia.
Results:
Abortion providers are barriers to abortion through their desire to dissuade potential clients from abortion through persuasive language and emphasizing exaggerated risks of abortion. Mandated clinical procedures prior to the abortion are also barriers to abortion in this setting - in terms of increased wait time, expenses, and pre procedure tasks. The tasks include an ultrasound, vaginal swab, and blood tests for STIs.
Conclusions:
Abortion clients have many systemic hurdles to obtain an abortion in Mongolia out of their control - from providers openly sharing unabashedly their negative attitudes and beliefs about abortion to the government mandated policies regarding abortion.
