Changes in Abortion Legislation in Eight States of Mexico: A Mexico City Backlash?

Jorge Armando Valencia-Rodriguez, University of Pennsylvania
Sandra García, Population Council
Katherine Wilson, Population Council
Claudia Díaz-Olavarrieta, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública (INSP)
Maria Luisa Sanchez Fuentes, Grupo de Información en Reproducción Elegida (GIRE)

In April 2007 the Mexico City Assembly made elective abortion legal up to 12 weeks gestation. Following this reform, 15 states, out of a total of 32, either approved legislation to pose barriers to abortion under previously legal clauses, or passed amendments to limit women’s access to abortion. In March 2008 we carried out 8 public opinion surveys in four states where laws had been changed and four with pending legislation. Each included a random rural/urban sample of 800 men and women, aged 18-95. Surveys included knowledge of existing abortion law, opinion regarding changes or initiatives to change the existing abortion legislation, etc. We conducted bivariate and multivariate analysis. Results from 6,397 participants indicate they support abortion within a 12 week gestation period especially in cases of risk to a woman’s health or life and fetal abnormalities. Participant’s knowledge of state abortion legislation in Mexico is low.