Evidence Check: The mental health impact of abortion
Based on the best scientific evidence currently available, there is no credible evidence that abortion, in and of itself, causes mental health problems for most women. But not all studies on the issue are created equal and methodological flaws are pervasive in the literature on the subject...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
Tom & Dee Ann McCarthy/CORBISThe 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. Guttmacher experts call on policymakers to improve access to subsidized contraceptive services, thereby helping those women at greatest risk to prevent unintended pregnancies from occurring in the first place...more
Exploring the intersections of
intimate partner violence and reproductive health
On September 23, 2008, the Guttmacher Institute and the Family Violence Prevention Fund hosted a roundtable discussion for experts to explore the complex ways in which intimate partner violence can compromise reproductive health, what health care providers can do to identify and address intimate partner violence with their patients, and promising points of intervention…more
No evidence to support funding of abstinence-only programs
A major new review finds that most abstinence-only programs of the type that have received $1.5 billion in federal funding do not help teens delay initiation of sex and concludes there is no scientific evidence to warrant their widespread use. The review is part of a series of articles published in Sexuality Research and Social Policy that identify major flaws in abstinence-only education...more
Abortion and women of color
Abortion rates among racial and ethnic minorities, especially blacks and Hispanics, are higher than rates among white women and are directly related to their higher rates of unintended pregnancy, according to a new Guttmacher policy analysis...more
An op-ed by Guttmacher Institute Board chair Melissa Gilliam in the Philadelphia Inquirer examines abortion rates within the black community, putting the issue firmly in the context of broader disparities in access to good, affordable health care, while outlining evidence-based policies that would have a positive impact...more
Guttmacher celebrates four decades of accomplishments
The Institute is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. We are proud of the many contributions Guttmacher has made to the sexual and reproductive health field, especially the four defining achievements that are highlighted in our 2007 Annual Report.
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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