In a recent NPR story on how Donald Trump’s reelection could impact reproductive health in low income countries, Dr. Linnea Zimmerman, principal investigator of PMA Ethiopia and associate professor at Johns Hopkins University, provided insight into the chilling effect of the Mexico City Policy (also known as the “Global Gag Rule.”)
According to NPR, the policy “bars any organization that receives U.S. foreign health assistance from offering or even discussing abortion services.” As result, many organizations pull back their programs and limit efforts related to reproductive health. Trump reinstated this policy in his previous term and is expected to do the same once inaugurated for a second time.
Dr. Zimmerman explained:
“When the Mexico City policy is in place, women have less access to contraception. They have less access to information about sexual and reproductive health. They’re more likely to have an unintended pregnancy. And when that happens, women are less likely to have access to a safe abortion.”
