Public Health Association of Australia: Policy-at-a-glance – Abortion Policy

increased education, fertility awareness, uptake of effective contraception and respectful relationships. This may be assisted through a comprehensive national sexual and reproductive health strategy. 2. While the primary public health goal in the area of unintended pregnancy is prevention, even with good prevention strategies abortion services will always be needed. 3. Abortion is a common part of many women’s reproductive experience with one quarter to one third of all Australian women having an abortion at some point in their life. 4. In the Australian setting, abortion is an extremely safe procedure. Internationally, access to safe, legal abortion significantly reduces maternal mortality. 5. Abortion should be regulated in the same way as other health procedures, without additional barriers or conditions. Regulation of abortion should be removed from Australian criminal law. 6. States and territories should actively work toward equitable access (including geographic and financial access) to abortion services, with a mix of public and private services available. Summary: Abortion is a safe, common medical procedure which should be regulated in the same way as other medical procedures. Both medical and surgical abortion should be included in health service planning