Unwanted pregnancy and abortion attempt: practices and contexts
Keywords:
mother child health, reproductive health, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, public health, BrazilAbstract
The aim of this article is to explore aspects of unwanted pregnancy and abortion attempts revealed in an evaluation of prenatal care. We conducted a quantitative and qualitative study with mothers in 1035 in the Metropolitan Region of Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, admitted for labor in Unified Health System reference hospitals. The population survey collected demographic data, as well as data regarding feelings and expectations toward pregnancy. In the qualitative stage, semi-structured interviews were conducted. The results showed the attempt of unsafe abortion as a result of an unwanted pregnancy. Vulnerabilities were revealed among the sample of women, who demonstrated popular knowledge about abortion risks to the baby. It is understood that the women face the risk of an induced abortion, revealing moral conflicts that persist in Brazilian society, especially about the right to life and the right to women’s autonomy.Downloads
Published
2016-04-20
Issue
Section
Articles
License
The authors keep the copyright, and they grant to the magazine the right of publication. The reproduction of the texts published on SEXUALITY, HEALTH AND SOCIETY - A LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL on other publications, even partially, shall state the first issue on this magazine.
SEXUALITY, HEALTH AND SOCIETY - A LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.