Itineraries of solitude: clandestine abortion among adolescents in a favela in Rio de Janeiro's South Zone, Brazil.

Wendell Ferrari,Simone Peres

doi:10.1590/0102-311x00198318

Wendell Ferrari, Simone Peres

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311x00198318

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Abstract

This article presents the results of a qualitative study based on semi-structured in-depth interviews with ten adolescents, aged between 15 and 17 years, who live in a favela in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and who had experienced an illegal abortion between the ages of 12 and 17. We sought to examine more effectively the issue of abortion in adolescence and the strategies employed by adolescents in order to have an abortion within an illegal context. We unveiled the methods that were used, the locations where abortions took place and the manner in which the process of having an abortion happened. The abortions took place at clandestine clinics; at the apartment of a partner's friend; and using the medication "Cytotec" (misoprostol). The values paid for the abortion ranged between BRL 500.00 and BRL 2,500.00 and all took place without the knowledge or participation of the adolescents' legal guardians. One adolescent had to seek out a health service due to complications from the abortion. Informants relied on friends and/or partners and almost all were alone when they had their abortions, which should motivate a reflection regarding the risks taken and the solitude experienced by these adolescents in order to undergo an unsafe and illegal act. We conclude that the study of abortion at this life stage makes an important contribution to understanding sexuality and reproduction in adolescence.

Highlights

In Brazil, the crux of studies about abortion remains its illegality
Studies are still scarce and usually refer to hospital admissions in the public health network, based on data from the Brazilian Hospital Information System (SIH, in Portuguese), and to maternal mortality, based on data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM, in Portuguese), a fact that hinders our ability to ascertain the dimension of the problem on a national scale [1,2]
In order to consider abortion and its intersections with subjects such as sexuality and contraception, or the multidimensional issues linked to it in Brazil, one must acknowledge that most works have a partial perspective on the problem given the limitations imposed by its illegality [1,3,4]

Summary

Introduction

In Brazil, the crux of studies about abortion remains its illegality. Studies are still scarce and usually refer to hospital admissions in the public health network, based on data from the Brazilian Hospital Information System (SIH, in Portuguese), and to maternal mortality, based on data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM, in Portuguese), a fact that hinders our ability to ascertain the dimension of the problem on a national scale [1,2].studies are restricted to particular empirical universes, due to the obstacles imposed by illegality. Afraid to involve their mothers in the decision-making process, adolescents used strategies that relied on friends, some partners, or young men involved with drug trafficking.

Results

Conclusion