Barriers to timely abortion, including cost and stigma, persist in Queensland despite decriminalisation — and in some cases are the catalyst to self-harm to induce miscarriage, a study shows.

Data from the state’s main pregnancy counselling service have also revealed nearly half of its clients have experienced family or intimate partner violence, including abuse, reproductive coercion and controlling behaviour.

The financial burden of termination and stigma from healthcare providers remain significant barriers to access, with some women resorting to self-harm or black-market pills to ‘self-abort’, the researchers say.

The University of Queensland-led team says their findings, published in Sexual Health, suggest that decriminalisation alone is not enough to protect reproductive autonomy.