Why is this review being conducted?
Adolescents and young people around the world continue to face multiple barriers to accessing accurate abortion-related information, quality services and appropriate care. These barriers may include legal and policy restrictions, stigma, limited provider capacity, financial and geographic constraints, lack of confidentiality and inadequate access to evidence-based information. At the same time, a range of factors can facilitate adolescents' access to timely, respectful and quality abortion care.
To better understand these barriers and facilitators, HRP (the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is conducting a systematic review to synthesize global evidence on adolescents' access to abortion-related information, services, and care. The review will inform future WHO guidance, policy, research, and programmatic efforts to improve equitable access to comprehensive abortion care for adolescents and young people.
What kind of submissions are being sought?
We invite submissions of relevant grey literature published in any language, including but not limited to:
- Research reports
- Technical reports
- Programme evaluations
- Policy analyses
- Working papers
- Conference papers and proceedings
- Government publications
- NGO and civil society reports
- Unpublished manuscripts and dissertations
- Other relevant evidence documents
Submissions should focus on adolescents and young people (10–19 years, and where relevant up to 24 years) and address barriers and/or facilitators influencing access to:
- Abortion-related information
- Abortion services and care
- Decision-making and care-seeking
- Referral pathways
- Counselling and support systems
- Legal, policy, social, health system, or community factors affecting access
Evidence from all geographic regions and income settings is welcome.
If you do not have materials to share but know colleagues or organisations with expertise in this area who may be able to contribute relevant evidence, we would welcome their contact details.
What is the deadline?
Please submit all suggested grey literature and any expert contacts by 7 August 2026.
How do I submit?
Please complete the submission form below and either upload the relevant documents or provide links to the materials.
Link: https://forms.gle/2r1GcsJorfTSz8by9
Questions
For questions regarding this call, please contact srhpua@who.int.
WHO particularly welcomes submissions from governmental agencies, academic institutions, multilateral organizations, youth-led organizations, civil society organizations and research networks.
Your contribution will help strengthen the global evidence base on adolescents' and young people's access to abortion-related information, services and care, and inform future policy, programme and research efforts.