Cross‐Border Travel for Reproductive Health

Abstract

Abortion travel across national borders is a significant phenomenon in Europe and elsewhere around the world. The fragmented international reproductive policy landscape means that access to abortion care varies substantially between countries. Regional differences in access to services may also fuel in‐country travel for abortion care. A growing body of debates and research examining reproductive rights and access to abortion care reveals that women and pregnant people seek abortion abroad because of legal, socio‐economic and administrative barriers to the service in their country of residence. The impacts of these policy restrictions are numerous for people seeking care abroad, including distress when faced with inadequate healthcare system at home, and the hardships of travel abroad and navigating foreign health structures. Ethical implications of fragmented and restrictive abortion policies include the perpetuation of the stratification of care based on gender, citizenship, class, legal documentation status and other forms of inequalities. Key Concepts Cross‐border reproductive care includes travel for abortion services. Reproductive rights and policies vary between countries, thereby creating a fragmented policy landscape in which access to abortion care varies significantly. Women and pregnant people travel abroad for abortion services when they are unable to obtain them in their country of residence. Barriers to abortion access include gestational age limits, mandatory waiting period, mandatory counselling, health professionals' refusal of care citing conscience‐based objection, abortion stigma and financial resources. The fact that women and pregnant people have to travel internationally for this essential health care is problematic from ethical, social and political perspectives. States should consider liberalising their reproductive rights in order to guarantee abortion care to their citizens and residents.