Citation

LaRoche KJ, Martzke A, Doctoroff J, Goldberg E, Foster AM. Contraception 2021; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.contraception.2021.09.010

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore violence and disruption events reported by Canadian facilities providing abortion care in 2017, when only three provinces had passed safe access zone legislation.

METHODS: We reviewed self-reported data from 16 of 38 Canadian members of the National Abortion Federation.

RESULTS: Twelve facilities in seven provinces reported 571 instances of picketing (97%), trespassing (>1%), threats of harm (>2%), and harassing calls/mail/emails (2%); four facilities reported no incidents. Freestanding clinics reported more picketing than hospital-based facilities.

DISCUSSION: Abortion providing facilities in Canada experienced picketing and other kinds of violence and disruption in 2017. These data serve as a baseline for future studies.

Language: en

Keywords

Canada; Abortion; anti-choice activism; picketing; protests