title: [Personal experiences with induced abortions in private clinics in Northeast Brazil].
abstract: Based on a qualitative study conducted in 2012, the article analyzes middle-class individuals' experiences with induced abortions performed in private clinics. Thirty-four stories of induced abortions were narrated by 19 women and five men living in two state capitals in Northeast Brazil. Thematic analysis revealed differences in types of clinics and care provided by the physicians. The article shows that abortion in private clinics fails to guarantee safe or humane care. The narratives furnish descriptions of diverse situations and practices, ranging from flaws such as lack of information on medicines to others involving severe abuses like procedures performed without anesthesia. The article concludes that criminalization of abortion in Brazil allows clinics to operate with no state regulation; it does not prevent women from having abortions, but exposes them to total vulnerability and violation of human rights.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCallum
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.
authors.forename: Greice
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Menezes
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011331:Private Practice / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult