Aborto e legislação: opinião de magistrados e promotores de justiça brasileiros

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the opinion of judges and prosecutors concerning Brazilian abortion law and situations in which the abortion should be allowed. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was performed with 1,493 judges and 2,614 prosecutors in Brazil between 2005 and 2006. Participants completed a structured questionnaire approaching sociodemographic characteristics, opinions about abortion law, and circumstances in which abortion is considered lawful. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of data were carried out through Poisson regression. RESULTS:The majority of participants (78%) found that the circumstances in which abortion is considered lawful should be broadened, or even that abortion should not be criminalized. The highest rates of pro-abortion opinions resulted from: risk to the life of the mother (84%), anencephaly (83%), severe congenital malformation of fetus (82%), and pregnancy resulting from rape (82%). Variables related to religion were strongly associated to the opinion of participants. CONCLUSIONS:There is a trend in considering the need of changing the current abortion law, in the sense of widening the circumstances in which abortion is considered lawful, or even toward decriminalizing abortion, regardless of the circumstances in which it takes place.

Knowledge of medical abortion among Brazilian medical students

“…It appears that the theoretical curriculum is lagging behind current practice-a lag probably influenced by a mistaken belief that most professionals at their respective medical schools oppose pregnancy termination and teaching the subject. In fact, earlier studies have shown that the great majority of obstetricians, gynecologists, other medical professionals, and lay people are in favor of the provision of abortion services for women who fulfill the legal requirements [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Aborto legal no Brasil: revisão sistemática da produção científica, 2008-2018

“…For example, when asked directly, the percentage of individuals who would accept severe malformations or women's socioeconomic and emotional conditions are reasons for abortions is low, whether among students and health professionals or laypeople, although most oppose imprisoning women 27 . However, in a study of judges and prosecutors in 2005-2006, 78% of interviewees were in favor of expanding the cases in which abortion is legal or even decriminalizing abortion, and opinions were frequently associated with variables related to religion 62 . Religion was also a factor associated with more restrictive positions among students 27,29,31 .…”

Abortion in Latin America: Changes in Practice, Growing Conflict, and Recent Policy Developments

“…A second survey found that only 48 percent of obstetrician-gynecologist respondents reported accurate knowledge about abortion law, only 33 percent had ever performed an abortion, and few of these 33 percent reported having experience with MVA or with misoprostol (with either mifepristone or methotrexate) (Goldman et al 2005). A 2006 survey of 1,493 judges and 2,614 prosecutors found that 78 percent believed legal grounds for abortion should be broadened (Duarte et al 2010).…”