“…our goal is to avoid abortions whenever possible.”: A qualitative study on clinical and structural barriers to abortion in Mongolia in 2025

There are a number of structural barriers to abortion in Mongolia including limitations on who can provide abortions and where, exaggerated fears of abortion infertility, particularly for minors, cost of the procedure, and required pre procedure clinical tests. This 2025 qualitative study utilized 24 in depth interviews with abortion clients, male partners of abortion clients, and abortion providers to better understand clinical and structural barriers to abortion in Mongolia. Abortion providers are barriers to abortion through their desire to dissuade potential clients from abortion through persuasive language and emphasizing exaggerated risks of abortion. Mandated clinical procedures prior to the abortion are also barriers to abortion in this setting – in terms of increased wait time, expenses, and pre procedure tasks. The tasks include an ultrasound, vaginal swab, and blood tests for STIs. Abortion clients have many systemic hurdles to obtain an abortion in Mongolia out of their control – from providers openly sharing unabashedly their negative attitudes and beliefs about abortion to the government mandated policies regarding abortion. There are a number of barriers to abortion in Mongolia including only doctors can provide abortions, stressing the risks of abortion on the ability to get pregnant in the future, especially for teens, medical tests one must complete before the abortion, and the costs. This 2025 study included 24 interviews with abortion clients, male partners of abortion clients, and abortion providers to better understand barriers to abortion in Mongolia. The results show that abortion providers are barriers to abortion through their efforts to stop the abortion. Mandatory hospital rules before the abortion are also barriers to abortion in this setting – longer wait times, higher costs, and tasks to complete before the abortion. The tasks include an ultrasound, vaginal swab, and blood tests for STIs. Abortion clients have many barriers to abortion in Mongolia out of their control.