Where We Work

Latin America & the Caribbean

Middle East & North Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa

United States

Multi-regional

What We Do

Unsafe abortion is one of the most critical reproductive health issues in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region: it is estimated that 3,700 women die annually due to complications related to abortion, and thousands more suffer from related illnesses and injuries. Our projects in the LAC region focus on generating and leveraging existing evidence to change abortion policies at the national, local, and hospital/clinic levels; improve professional practices; and ensure that women have access to quality services even in settings where abortion is highly legally restricted. We also participate in research and advocacy efforts that aim to expand contraceptive choices for women, which contribute to reducing unintended pregnancy.

 

We recognize that reproductive health policies, practices, services, and outcomes in the LAC region also have an impact on those in North America, and vice versa. Our portfolio of projects thus includes a focus on the intersection of immigration, gender, and reproductive health and rights. Specifically, we examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of immigrant women from the LAC region and Latina women in the US on issues surrounding contraception, abortion, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

 

Our hope is to use these results to improve women’s ability to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights in the face of restrictive laws, policies, and social norms.

 

 

Projects:

• Reducing maternal mortality from unsafe abortion
• Improving access to legal abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Exploring women’s experiences with abortion self-induction in the US
• Evaluating over-the-counter use of oral contraceptives among US women living near the Mexico border
• Documenting the acceptability of woman-initiated/controlled barrier methods among sex workers in the Dominican Republic