Objective:

To analyze the strategies developed by the health centers to implement the law of legal abortion (LA) in public services of the primary care in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Materials and methods:

A qualitative research was conducted combining techniques of document analysis, self-administered questionnaires to key informants, and in-depth interviews with directors of health centers. A simple summative index of accessibility to abortion services was built.

Results:

The law approved in Uruguay in 2012 demanded the development of a strategy to promote women’s accessibility to LA in the public primary care system. The services failed to fully implement the strategy, due to institutional barriers.

Conclusion:

Despite the wide availability of LA services in primary care and that they are an integral part of sexual and reproductive health benefits, there is an important barrier to their use in the number of gynecologists that appeal to conscientious objection.

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