Women in abortion situation: a case study

Abstract

This research intends to analyze, through a qualitative approach and a case study, the narratives of 19 women in abortion situation, who were assisted in the HUCAM (Hospital of the Federal University) of the city of Vitoria, state of Espírito Santo. The data collection was made through participative observation techniques, semi-structured interviews, registrations on a field notebook and analysis of the women's medical records. The data were presented through the construction of narratives, following the model proposed by Bourdieu (2003); the analysis of the recorded interviews followed the orientation of Pope et al. (2006), with the construction of empiric categories that emerged from the narratives. Four categories emerged from the women's narratives: reproductive experiences; how women perceived the pregnancy; the abortion experience; and the provided healthcare services. The results demonstrate that the provided assistance neither meets their health needs nor respects their reproductive rights. The interviewed women, both the ones who caused the abortion or those who had a miscarriage, characterize the service as bad, inefficient and prejudicial.