Abortion laws liberalized in 16 countries since 1998
© Comstock Select/CorbisIn the 10 years since the last global review of abortion policies, 16 countries have increased the number of grounds on which abortions may be legally performed, while two have eliminated all such grounds…more
Evidence shows that restrictive policies do not lead to fewer abortions. Abortion rates are roughly equal in countries where the procedure is legal and where it is illegal, according to recent worldwide estimates from the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization (WHO)…more
Advocates call for making contraceptive use easier
A growing number of women’s health advocates are urging bolder and potentially transformative steps toward greater “contraceptive convenience,” with the aim of making contraceptive use easier by stripping away layers of medical intervention or requirements that are outmoded or unnecessary...more
Dr. Isaac F. Adewole named 2008 Bixby Leadership Fellow
The Guttmacher Institute is pleased to announce that Professor Isaac F. Adewole has been named the 2008 Bixby Leadership Fellow. Established through a generous grant from the Fred H. Bixby Foundation, The Bixby International Fellowship brings one scholar or advocate from the developing world to the Institute for up to two months to collaborate with staff on international activities...more
Evidence Check: The impact of parental involvement laws
There is no strong evidence that parental involvement laws have prevented many minors from obtaining abortions and most studies purporting to show a significant impact of such laws suffer from a range of serious methodological flaws...more
Abortion on the rise in Mexico
© Emmanuel JazbekDespite legal restrictions that virtually ban the procedure in most parts of the country, a study released today by El Colegio de Mexico, the Population Council Mexico Office and the Guttmacher Institute found that between 1990 and 2006, the abortion rate in Mexico increased by one-third—from 25 to 33 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age...more
Broad opposition to proposed federal “refusal right” rule
A wide range of organizations and individuals have submitted letters opposing a new rule proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services, which would vastly expand the rights of individuals and institutions to refuse to provide health care services to which they object. The rule could impede access to critically important health care services, and even basic information related to these services...more
Read the Guttmacher Institute’s letter opposing the new rule here
Overall abortion decline masks growing disparities
The U.S. abortion rate is at its lowest level since 1974, down 33% from its peak in 1980. However, this overall trend masks large disparities in rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion across demographic subgroups...more
Improved access to high-quality, affordable contraceptive services is among the steps needed to reduce health disparities...more
Take Guttmacher’s annual pop quiz
How much do you know about sexual and reproductive health? To find out, take our annual pop quiz, developed by Guttmacher researchers and policy experts. Although the issues are in the news all the time, the facts are all too frequently misrepresented, and you may be surprised by what you learn...more
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