Mexico & Abortion

Abortion is legal in mexico only when the woman's life is in danger or in cases of rape or incest.

States are allowed to regulate their abortion laws and some will allow an abortion when there are severe congenital defects.

The state of Yucatan allows abortion for those women who are of poor economic status who already have 3 children. However there are no legal abortion practitioners in the state.

Contraception is not a large problem in Mexico, birth control pills are available over the counter. Education is lacking however and this poses a problem in that people do not know how to use contraceptives properly leading to unplanned pregnancy's and abortion.

Women who have and practitioners who perform illegal abortions are subject to between 6 months and 5 years in jail.

Despite the restrictive laws in Mexico abortion is widely practiced. Each year 500,000 to 1,500,000 illegal abortions are induced. 150,000 of those women are then treated at local hospitals for complications resulting from back ally abortions according to Planned Parenthood.

Illegal abortions are the 4rd highest cause of maternal mortality in Mexico.