Do all roads lead to the same destination? Proximity to abortion providers, abortions, and their conditions in Portugal

António Melo ()
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António Melo: ESOMAS, University of Turin

Journal of Population Economics, 2024, vol. 37, issue 4, No 5, 31 pages

Abstract: Abstract In Portugal, 65% of gynecologists conscientiously object to performing abortions, limiting the provision of abortion services across the country. This paper exploits quasi-random variation in abortion supply related to changes in doctor availability to examine how variations in proximity to an abortion provider affect the probability a pregnancy is aborted and the conditions under which abortions occur, including when, where, and how. Using a novel dataset of the universe of legal abortions in Portugal, I find suggestive evidence that there are fewer abortions among women living further away from a provider relative to women living closer. I also find evidence that these women have abortions later, are more likely to be referred by public hospitals to private clinics, and have an increased risk of having a surgical abortion.

Keywords: Abortion access; Distance to abortion care; Family planning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I11 I12 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s00148-024-01048-1

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