Addressing Stigma

Values and beliefs about abortion shape the environment in which abortion care is delivered, abortion research is generated and research findings are disseminated. In many settings, there are commonly held attitudes and beliefs that abortions are bad, shameful or wrong. These types of values and beliefs are collectively referred to as abortion stigma. The resources included in this toolkit are designed to help people become aware of their abortion-related values and beliefs and to align that knowledge and values to foster advocacy efforts.

Several trainings, scoping reviews and other resources have been developed to help individuals clarify their values related to abortion, understand the impact of abortion stigma on safe abortion access and promote values-aligned advocacy for safe abortion:

See Abortion Stigma Resources for more on these subjects:

• Understanding abortion stigma
• Values clarification
• Community dialogue
• Engaging with religion
• Challenging patriarchal norms
• Working with health care providers
• Monitoring change
• University training materials