In the know: Expanding equitable abortion access through addressing health and legal literacy

Despite substantial liberalization of the right to abortion and constitutional commitments to health equality, abortion access in Colombia remains subject to social, economic, and ‘mobility’ privileges. Abortion is thus a health equities problem. Our research with pro-choice advocacy groups and sexual and reproductive health providers in 2018 highlighted the persistent barriers to care rooted in lack of health and legal literacy. Respondents associated understanding of where and how to access abortion with socio-economic status. Current pro-choice activist movements aim to address barrier to abortion through decriminalization. However, based on our research, we contend that health and legal literacy should be addressed as connected but distinct issues.