title: Clandestine abortion in Latin America: provider perspectives.
abstract: This paper presents the results of in-depth interviews with ten clandestine abortion providers in urban Latin America. Three related issues are addressed: how abortion providers come to this line of work; their major difficulties; and their sources of job satisfaction. A variety of paths bring health professionals to the practice of abortion; common elements are a sense of calling, a desire to help women, personal experience with abortion, and a commitment to political change. Providers describe difficulties that include a lack of medical support, the need for secrecy, and threats of violence, extortion, and prosecution. In spite of difficulties, all providers report a great deal of fulfillment in their work, based on their satisfaction in saving women's lives, maintaining supportive relationships with colleagues, and empowering women.
authors.affiliation: United Nations.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strickler
mesh_terms: D000024:Abortion, Illegal; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007843:Latin America; D009042:Motivation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014754:Violence