A report reveals people living in regional Victoria are almost twice as likely to seek abortions after 12 weeks' gestation than those living in metropolitan areas.
Women's Health Victoria has released a report highlighting inequities in abortion access for people living in regional and rural areas of Victoria compared to those in metropolitan areas.
The Realising Access report, produced based on the organisation's findings, paints a stark picture of abortion access inequities across Victoria.In Victoria, medical abortions can be prescribed up to nine weeks gestation with abortion options narrowing as gestational age increases. 1800 My Options manager Carolyn Mogharbel said in regional areas it was common to have to wait three to four weeks for GP appointments, forcing many people over the nine-week cut-off for medical abortions."If they're unable to access that, the odds are they're going to have to travel several hundred kilometres to be able to get a surgical abortion," Ms Mogharbel said.
"The lack of choice that women from under-served communities have starts with their access to contraception and goes all the way through to their right to choose if, when and how to have an abortion."Women's Health Victoria has made a range of recommendations to increase access to sexual and reproductive health services, particularly in socio-economic disadvantaged areas, high urban growth areas, and regional and rural areas.
It has called on the federal government to expand access to low and no-cost abortion services and long-acting reversible contraceptive options to all people, regardless of visa status.
Women's Healthcare Abortion Sexual Health Reproductive Health Reproductive Rights GP Wait Times Medical Abortion Pro Choice
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Clothing store for trans and gender-diverse people opens in regional VictoriaMum Renea Johnson wants to give others the shopping experience that her trans daughter didn't have. So she opened an inclusive clothing store in regional Victoria.
Read more »
Child injured by horse at pub in regional VictoriaA infant has been transported to the Royal Children's Hospital from a town near Ballarat after being injured by a horse.
Read more »
Man dies after tree collapses on tent in regional VictoriaPolice say a young man has died at the scene after a tree collapsed on him while he was camping in the state's high country.
Read more »
No surgical abortion providers in seven out of 10 Victorian local government areas, report finds‘Service deserts’ affect those in high-disadvantage regional districts most, Women’s Health Victoria study says
Read more »
Push to open up schools to unlock more green space for nearly 500,000 VictoriansInfrastructure Victoria says opening more of Melbourne's schools after hours could be a simple solution to making the city's fastest growing suburbs healthier and more liveable.
Read more »
New public holiday on the cards for VictoriansVictorians may soon have a new public holiday dedicated to celebrating Indigenous culture, as Aboriginal leaders enter discussions with the state government regarding a Victorian treaty.
Read more »