No surgical abortion providers in seven out of 10 Victorian local government areas, report finds

Service deserts' affect those in high-disadvantage regional districts most, Women's Health Victoria study says

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Seven out of 10 Victorian local government areas have no surgical abortion provider, and one in five have no medical abortion provider, a new report shows.

The Realising Access report released on Thursday by the not-for-profit Women's Health Victoria (WHV) also found service deserts" most profoundly affect women in high-disadvantage regional areas. Women in such areas are 300% more likely to seek abortion services later than nine weeks, meaning they require a surgical abortion for which there are even fewer providers.

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