Number of VTP Requests vs. Procedures Performed
Through public information requests, GIRE posed two key questions to federal and state health institutions: how many VTP requests were received between January 2016 and October 2022, and how many VTP procedures were actually carried out during that period. The goal was to determine whether all women and other pregnant people who request termination of pregnancy on the grounds of rape effectively receive this service.
State and federal entities were expected to respond with a clear and disaggregated record of VTP requests and of the procedures performed. Ideally, both records should match, since service users should receive care from the moment they request a VTP.
Federal Entities
(January 2016 to October de 2022)
Download data here.
| Entity | VTP Requests Submitted | Period | VTP Procedures Performed | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Aguascalientes
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
12
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Baja California
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
25
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Baja California Sur
|
18
|
2016-October 2022
|
15
|
2016-2022
|
|
Campeche
|
No records
|
–
|
7
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Chiapas
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
47
|
2021-October 2022
|
|
Chihuahua
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
46
|
2017-October 2022
|
|
Mexico City
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
176
|
2017-September 2022
|
|
Coahuila
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
94
|
2016-September 2022
|
|
Colima
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
2
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Durango
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
20
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Guanajuato
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
53
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Guerrero
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
68
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Hidalgo
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
|
Jalisco
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
73
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
State of Mexico
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
181
|
2017-October 2022
|
|
Michoacán
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
6
|
2018-October 2022
|
|
Morelos
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
40
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Nayarit
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
80
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Nuevo León
|
16
|
2016-October 2022
|
14
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Oaxaca
|
No records
|
–
|
No records
|
–
|
|
Puebla
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
55
|
2016-September 2022
|
|
Querétaro
|
1
|
2016-October 2022
|
1
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Quintana Roo
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
13
|
2016-August 2022 |
|
San Luis Potosí
|
35
|
2016-October 2022
|
24
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Sinaloa
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
32
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Sonora
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
|
Tabasco
|
No records
|
–
|
26
|
2018-October 2022
|
|
Tamaulipas
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
15
|
2017-October 2022
|
|
Tlaxcala
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
23
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Veracruz
|
97
|
2017-August 2022
|
98
|
2017-September 2022
|
|
Yucatán
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
31
|
2016-October 2022
|
|
Zacatecas
|
Incorrect response
|
–
|
21
|
2018-October 2022
|
Created by GIRE based on SAI data.
Findings
- Only five federal entities maintain differentiated records between VTP requests and VTP
procedures performed (Baja California Sur, Nuevo León, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí,
and Veracruz). The remaining 27 entities provided an incorrect response, as they
reported only the number of VTP procedures performed. Lack of this record constitutes
an obstacle to assessing whether all individuals who requested termination of pregnancy
on the grounds of rape were actually able to access the service.- In three of the five entities that maintain clear and differentiated records of VTP requests and procedures performed, requests outnumber procedures. This indicates that not all women and other pregnant people who requested the service were able to access it. However, it is not possible to determine the reasons for this gap using the information provided.
- It is noteworthy that 29 entities have information on VTP procedures performed. However, due to the lack of records on VTP requests, it is not possible to determine whether all service users who request the service are able to access it.
The lack of clear and differentiated records of VTP requests and procedures performed makes it impossible to determine whether the Mexican state is fulfilling its obligation to ensure access to comprehensive health services. Such services are essential for enabling individuals to pursue their life plans and to achieve well-being in terms of their physical, mental, emotional, and social health.
Federation
(January 2016 to October 2022)
Download the data here.
| Obligated Entity | VTP Requests Submitted | VTP Procedures Performed | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
IMSS
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
ISSSTE
|
Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Bicentenario de la Independencia, State of Mexico
|
No VTP requests received
|
Incorrect response
|
|
Hospital Regional Centenario de la Revolución Mexicana, Emiliano Zapata, Morelos
|
Incorrect response
|
All physicians are reported as conscientious objectors. No VTP procedures have been performed
|
|
|
Dirección Normativa de Salud, Mexico City
|
Non-existent
|
Non-existent
|
|
|
Hospital Regional General Ignacio Zaragoza, Mexico City
|
Legal termination of pregnancy is not performed under any circumstances
|
Termination of pregnancy is not performed under any circumstances
|
|
|
Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo López Mateos, Mexico City
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Hospital Regional León, Guanajuato
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
Hospital Regional Dr. Manuel Cárdenas de la Vega, Sinaloa
|
No VTP requests received
|
No procedures have been performed
|
|
|
Hospital Regional Mérida
|
Incorrect response
|
No procedures have been performed
|
|
|
Hospital Regional Morelia
|
0
|
Incorrect response
|
|
|
Hospital Regional Monterrey
|
No records
|
No records
|
|
|
Hospital Regional 1.º de Octubre, Mexico City
|
No VTP requests received
|
Incorrect response
|
|
|
Hospital Regional Presidente Benito Juárez, Oaxaca
|
No VTP requests received
|
Incorrect response
|
|
|
Hospital Regional Puebla
|
No VTP requests received
|
Incorrect response
|
|
|
Hospital Regional B Veracruz
|
Incorrect response
|
0
|
|
|
Hospital Regional Dr. Valentín Gómez Farías, Jalisco
|
0
|
No procedures have been performed
|
|
|
PEMEX
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
SEDENA
|
No information
|
No information
|
|
|
SEMAR
|
No records
|
No information
|
|
|
Secretariat of Health
|
No records
|
No records
|
|
Created by GIRE based on SAI data.
Findings
According to the responses provided by obligated entities at the federal level:
- No VTP requests have been submitted, nor have any procedures been performed.
- There is no information or records regarding these data.
- No VTP procedures are carried out under any circumstances.
Under the federal regulatory framework, termination of pregnancy in cases of rape is considered grounds for non-punishability (i.e., it is not a punishable offense). It is therefore striking that, according to the responses of the obligated entities, this procedure is neither requested nor performed. The fact that none of the obligated entities report this information constitutes a barrier to determining how accessible this service is.
Additionally, in the case of ISSSTE, hospitals that reported that VTP procedures are not performed under any circumstances or that all medical personnel are conscientious objectors reflect the existence of institutional conscientious objection, which runs counter to the protection of human rights. Conscientious objection represents the exercise of the individual right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. Accordingly, health institutions may not invoke conscientious objection to evade their obligation to provide medical emergency services to users.