Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Almost all abortion research focuses on cisgender women's experiences. There are a small number of research studies about trans people's experiences of abortion care in the USA but so far none in Canada. It is important to have Canadian data because delivery and access challenges differ from the USA. In Canada, the Canada Health Act mandates full funding and accessibility for medically necessary care, which includes abortion. As such, medication and procedural abortion are offered within clinics and hospitals, at no cost for those who have health insurance funded by a province or territory. However, access continues to be challenging for many, including international students, newcomers, people requiring translation services, and those living in rural and remote regions. There are few or no services available in certain Canadian provinces and territories, and there are gestational duration limits that differ across the country. Further, where available, abortion is typically described as a service for women and offered within women-only or women-centered spaces. This creates a range of additional barriers for trans pregnant people who need abortion care. This project will explore trans people's experiences accessing abortion across Canada. It will involve semi-structured interviews and a participatory photography exercise with 20 trans people who have accessed or tried to access abortion in Canada, or who have attempted abortion without clinical supervision. Building on community and clinical partnerships, this project will directly inform trans-inclusive policies and practices for abortion services with implications for other reproductive and sexual health settings.