Barriers to Safe Abortion and Reproductive Health Services Among Youth in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

This scoping review mapped the barriers to safe abortion and reproductive health services among youth between 15 and 24 years in low- and middle-income countries. Young people in low- and middle-income countries face persistent challenges due to sociocultural barriers. These challenges are worsened by structural barriers, leading many adolescents to unsafe methods that increase preventable health risks. This review focused on barriers to safe abortion and reproductive health services among youth between 15 and 24 years in low- and middle-income countries. A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework from the relevant literature, using academic databases and repositories, in diverse regions. Sixty-nine articles were initially identified; 11 studies that met the eligibility criteria were included in the final analysis. Five themes emerged: stigma and social norms, provider attitudes and values, legal and policy uncertainty, financial and geographic barriers, and limited information and services, which hinder access to reproductive health services. The findings show that unsafe abortion among youth in low- and middle-income countries is driven by interconnected sociocultural and structural barriers that limit access to effective reproductive health services. This study provides insights to help policymakers and healthcare providers improve access to safe abortion and reproductive health services in low- and middle-income countries.