Garbhapaat which is the hindi word for abortion, Is a student lead initiative highlighting reproductive rights through different lenses. we focus on researching on abortion care in different socio-political situations and community outreach projects on reproductive healthcare!
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Shobhita 1: Welcome back to the Fight4Rights podcast. I'm your host, Shobhita Nehra. This is a new mini series named ‘Right 2 Decide’ which focuses on the decomposition of Abortion related topics and themes, made in collaboration with the Garbhapaat organization!
Advait 1: and I'm Advait singh, the founder of the organization Garbhapaat which focuses on reproductive care especially abortions through different socio-political perspectives and an academic lens. Today, we're diving into a crucial and complex topic: ‘The Economics of Abortion Care’.
Shobhita 2 : In this podcast, we will be focusing on countries where despite the fact that abortion is legal, affordability and availability can still pose significant barriers.The private health sector is the individuals and organizations that are neither owned nor directly controlled by governments and are involved in provision of health services, many people chose private practitioners and healthcare providers as they often provide the patient better safety and quality however the private sector often charges high fees, and there's a shortage of medical professionals willing or able to perform the procedure due to social and religious beliefs. This means that even when abortion care is legally permitted, social norms and attitudes, which tend to change more slowly than laws, can discourage people from seeking these services. Even our healthcare professionals have deep personal biases.
Advait 2 : Let's start by looking at the big-picture economic effects of abortion services and related laws. This includes the financial costs of abortion restrictions on society, how much the government spends on abortion services, and the impact on women's job opportunities and education levels. The financial burdens of abortion restrictions on society can include increased healthcare costs, welfare expenses due to unplanned pregnancies, and loss of income for women who are unable to work or finish their education.
Shobhita 3: Neglecting post-abortion care is a major public health issue, especially when it comes to unsafe abortions. Unsafe abortions, which are procedures done by untrained individuals or in non-medical settings, are a leading cause of severe health problems for women, resulting in over 300,000 deaths globally each year. Treating the complications from these unsafe abortions is very costly and takes up a large part of government health budgets. For instance, in Africa, over $171 million is spent annually on post-abortion care. In contrast, countries with safer abortion services, like many in Europe, spend significantly less on post-abortion care because the procedures are performed safely and legally.
Advait 3 :In countries with restrictive abortion laws, there's often a focus on making post-abortion care more hygienic and safer to reduce health risks. However, these restrictions can have major economic impacts on society. For one, the financial costs of dealing with complications from unsafe abortions are high and often fall on the public healthcare system. Additionally, restrictive abortion laws can severely limit women's economic opportunities.
When women are forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term, they may have to leave school or reduce their working hours, leading to lower educational attainment and reduced income. This can trap women in cycles of poverty and limit their ability to contribute fully to the economy. Women with more control over their reproductive health tend to have better job prospects and are more likely to pursue higher education, which boosts their earning potential and benefits the economy as a whole. Therefore, the economic costs of restrictive abortion laws extend beyond healthcare expenses, impacting women's overall economic participation and growth.
Shobhita 4: Restrictions on insurance coverage for abortion services heavily influence the financial accessibility of reproductive healthcare because a reduced amount of population can afford the service. Public sector coverage of abortion care is often sparse, with infrastructural challenges leading individuals to bear most of the financial burden. In many countries, few public programs fully cover the cost of the procedure, leaving many to pay out of pocket. This often results in low-income families being discouraged from accessing these services and finding cheaper alternatives that are usually unhygienic and incredibly unsafe.
Advait 4: Countries with comprehensive public programs covering abortion costs are usually high-income economies like Australia. The Australian government invests more than more than $333 million to strengthen health services and support available to women and girls, a luxury most LEDCS cannot afford.
Shobhita 5: Now you might be wondering how can abortion rights help our economies grow? Numerous studies have shown a strong connection between women's development in the workforce and education and the legalization of abortion. In the US, legalizing abortion increased women's labor market participation rates, especially among Black single women. By reducing the number of unintended pregnancies, increase the opportunities for women to enter and thrive within workplaces and increase literacy rate as more individuals, specifically pregnant teenagers, are able to complete their education.
Advait 5: Abortion regulations also impact women's marriage rates, which are important for predicting their participation in the workforce. In Eastern Europe, better access to abortion services has led to an increase in adult female marriage rates. This is because when women have control over their reproductive health, they can plan their families better, which makes marriage more attractive and manageable.Liberal abortion policies help women align their family planning with their personal and professional goals. This improves their productivity at work since they can choose when to have children, allowing them to focus on their careers without unplanned interruptions. Overall, access to abortion services supports women in balancing their personal lives and work, leading to better economic outcomes for them and society.
Shobhita 6: It's essential to consider the broader implications of abortion access on women's economic and educational opportunities.
Advait 6: Liberal abortion policies enable women to better manage their reproductive health, directly influencing their ability to participate in the workforce and pursue higher education.
Shobhita 7: Ultimately, the economics of abortion care reveal how intertwined reproductive health is with broader societal and economic outcomes. Ensuring affordable and accessible abortion care is not just a health issue, but a critical economic one as well.
Advait 7: Thank you for joining us on this episode of the Fight4Rights podcast which was made in collaboration with Garbhapaat, an organization that focuses on analyzing reproductive care through different academic lenses. We hope this discussion has shed light on the importance of reproductive care and family planning in economic discussions!
Shobhita 8: Don't forget to follow us on Instagram at @fight4rights_official for more updates and discussions. As well as that, check out the Garbhapaat website which is in our Instagram bio, and stay tuned for further collaborations! We'll see you in the next episode!
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Credits: Advait Singh (Orator & Writer), Shobhita Nehra (Orator) and Siddhi Jairath (Editor)
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