Abstract
Most incarcerated women are of reproductive age, and more than a third of women will
have an abortion during their reproductive years. Although women are the fastest growing
population in Canadian prisons, no one has studied the effect of their incarceration
on access to abortion services. Studies outside of Canada indicate rates of abortion
are higher among people experiencing incarceration than in the general population,
and that abortion access is often problematic. Although international standards for
abortion care among incarcerated populations exist, there conversely appear to be
no Canadian guidelines or procedures to facilitate unintended pregnancy prevention
or management. Barriers to abortion care inequitably restrict people with unintended
pregnancy from attaining education and employment opportunities, cause entrenchment
in violent relationships, and prevent people from choosing to parent when they are
ready and able. Understanding and facilitating equitable access to abortion care for
incarcerated people is critical to address structural, gender-, and race-based reproductive
health inequities, and to promote reproductive justice. There is an urgent need for
research in this area to direct best practices in clinical care and support policies
capable to ensure equal access to abortion care for incarcerated people.
Keywords
abortion - criminalization - justice system - Canada - health equity
