Personal experiences with induced abortions in private clinics in Northeast Brazil

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.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

The dilemma of a practiceExperiences of abortion in a public maternity hospital in the city of Salvador, Bahia

The article discusses abortion and miscarriage from the perspective of women admitted to a public maternity hospital in Salvador (BA), Brazil. Based on qualitative and quantitative research, it draws on participant observation of everyday hospital life. Taking an ethnographic approach, it addresses the hospital experiences of women who had miscarriages or induced abortions, also presenting the views of health professionals. It argues that the way the institution structures care for abortion and miscarriage involves symbolic processes that profoundly affect women’s experiences. The discrimination against women who have had abortions/ miscarriages is an integral part of the structure, organization and culture of these institutions, and does not derive solely from the individual actions of healthcare personnel.Publisher PDFPublisher PDFPeer reviewe

The dilemma of a practice: experiences of abortion in a public maternity hospital in the city of Salvador, Bahia

Discute o aborto pelas perspectivas de mulheres internadas em uma maternidade pública de Salvador (BA). Enfatiza a observação participante do cotidiano do hospital e descreve trabalho de campo com técnicas de pesquisa qualitativa e quantitativa. Por perspectiva etnográfica, aborda a experiência hospitalar de mulheres diante da interrupção, voluntária ou não, da gravidez e apresenta o ponto de vista dos profissionais de saúde, argumentando que a forma pela qual a instituição estrutura a atenção ao aborto e os processos de simbolização a ela imbricados afetam profundamente as experiências das mulheres. Aponta que a discriminação contra as mulheres que abortam está integrada a estrutura, organização e cultura institucionais, e não apenas a ações individuais dos profissionais. Artículo disponible en portugués y en inglés.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-59702016000100037&lang=p

Aspectos psicossociais do trabalho e distúrbios psíquicos entre trabalhadoras de enfermagem

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between psychological demand and job control and demand with psychological distress among nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 502 female nurses working in a public hospital at the city of Salvador, state of Bahia, Brazil. The Demand-Control Model proposed by Karasek to evaluate the association between job control-demand and psychological distress was adopted. The SRQ-20 was used to measure psychological distress. RESULTS: The prevalence of psychological distress was 33.3%, ranging from 20.0% among lady nurses to 36.4%, among nurse assistants. Strong dose-response gradients were observed between demand and psychological distress and the negative association between job control and psychological distress. Prevalence of psychological distress was higher (PR=2.6; 95% CI: 1.81-3.75) among professionals in high-strain jobs (high demand, low control) when compared to professionals in low-strain jobs (low demand, high control), after adjustment by potential confounders in a logistic multiple regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings reinforce the relevance of intervening in the organizational structure in order to increase control upon job and adjust the levels of psychological demands.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação entre demanda psicológica e controle sobre o trabalho e a ocorrência de distúrbios psíquicos menores entre trabalhadoras de enfermagem. MÉTODOS: Estudo de corte transversal, incluindo 502 trabalhadoras de enfermagem de um hospital público de Salvador, Bahia. O Modelo Demanda-Controle, de Karasek, foi utilizado para avaliar as dimensões psicossociais estudadas. Para mensuração de distúrbios psíquicos menores (DPM), utilizou-se o SRQ-20. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de DPM foi 33,3%, variando de 20,0% entre enfermeiras a 36,4% entre auxiliares. Observou-se nítido gradiente tipo dose-resposta de associação positiva entre demanda psicológica e DPM, e associação negativa entre controle sobre o trabalho e DPM. A prevalência de DPM foi mais elevada (RP=2,6; IC95%: 1,81-3,75) no quadrante de trabalho em alta exigência (alta demanda, baixo controle), quando comparado às profissionais em trabalho de baixa exigência (baixa demanda, alto controle), depois de ajustado, num modelo de regressão logística múltipla, por potenciais confundidores. CONCLUSÕES: Os achados reforçam a relevância da adoção de medidas de intervenção na estrutura organizacional, de modo a elevar o controle sobre o trabalho e redimensionar os níveis de demanda psicológica

DICT and teachers’ education: expanding classroom limits, critical thinking and autonomy

O objetivo deste artigo é compartilhar reflexões sobre experiências de incorporação das Tecnologias Digitais da Informação e Comunicação (TDIC) no curso de Licenciatura em Letras-Português/Espanhol da Escola de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas da Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Tais reflexões decorrem de ações implementadas por algumas docentes do curso e se ancoram no compromisso de possibilitar aos futuros docentes vivenciar experiências práticas e reflexões teóricas que lhes proporcionem formação mais coerente com a circulação do conhecimento na sociedade contemporânea (M. Freire, 2009). Fundamentadas no desenvolvimento da capacidade reflexiva e crítica na formação docente (Freire, 1980, 1996; Dewey 1938/1963; Schön, 1992), e nas perspectivas apontadas por Buzato (2006, 2009), Valente e Silva (2006) e Masetto (2000) sobre o uso das TDIC no ensino e na formação de professores, discorremos sobre acertos, erros e necessidades de ajustes da experiência, seu impacto para os futuros docentes, bem como para as docentes ministrantes.O objetivo deste artigo é compartilhar reflexões sobre experiências de incorporação das Tecnologias Digitais da Informação e Comunicação (TDIC) no curso de Licenciatura em Letras-Português/Espanhol da Escola de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas da Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Tais reflexões decorrem de ações implementadas por algumas docentes do curso e se ancoram no compromisso de possibilitar aos futuros docentes vivenciar experiências práticas e reflexões teóricas que lhes proporcionem formação mais coerente com a circulação do conhecimento na sociedade contemporânea (M. Freire, 2009). Fundamentadas no desenvolvimento da capacidade reflexiva e crítica na formação docente (Freire, 1980, 1996; Dewey 1938/1963; Schön, 1992), e nas perspectivas apontadas por Buzato (2006, 2009), Valente e Silva (2006) e Masetto (2000) sobre o uso das TDIC no ensino e na formação de professores, discorremos sobre acertos, erros e necessidades de ajustes da experiência, seu impacto para os futuros docentes, bem como para as docentes ministrantes.This paper presents some reflections about the experiences of using Digital Information and Communication Technologies (DICT) in the Bachelor’s Degree in Portuguese and Spanish Language and Literature (Escola de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, from the Universidade Federal de São Paulo). These reflections arose from actions performed by some professors who aimed at providing undergraduate students with practical experiences and theoretical reflections that can offer them a more consistent preparation to deal with the contemporary society’s demands (M. Freire, 2009). The authors believe that teacher education must include the development of reflective and critical capacity (Freire, 1979; Dewey 1938/1963; Schön, 1992), as well as the perspectives for the use of DICT teaching as outlined by Buzato (2006, 2009), Valente and Silva (2006) and Masetto (2000). This paper discourses about the mistakes, achievements and adjustments of the experiences, and their impact on the undergraduate students and professors.

Healthy lifestyle behaviors and the periodicity of mammography screening in brazilian women

INTRODUCTION: Certain behaviors have been associated with health promotion, including mammography screening, in women worldwide. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the periodicity of mammography screening and healthy lifestyle behaviors in Brazilian women employed at a public university in Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: A total of 635 women of 50–69 years of age at the time of the interview, from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health cohort who were resident in Bahia, participated in the study. Data were collected using a multidimensional questionnaire that included questions on participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and health-related behaviors (smoking, alcohol consumption, leisure-time physical activity and diet) and another questionnaire that dealt with risk factors and breast cancer screening. Measures of association were calculated using simple and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The practice of physical activity, not smoking, moderate alcohol consumption and a healthy diet were the health behaviors most adopted by the women who had last had a mammogram ⩽2 years previously (which is in line with the interval recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health). A statistically significant association was found between a lapse of ⩾3 years since last undergoing mammography screening and excessive alcohol consumption, while a borderline association was found between the same screening interval and leisure-time physical inactivity. CONCLUSION: There was an association between lifestyle risk behaviors and a longer time interval between mammography screenings. The present results contribute to the debate on the use of mammography, lifestyle behaviors and health promotion among women

Abortion in Brazil: a demographic approach

PURPOSE: to evaluate the prevalence of spontaneous and induced abortion reported by a sample of Brazilian women interviewed in the National Demographic Health Survey of 1996. METHODS: this was a secondary analysis of the Brazilian DHS-96 database, with information from interviews with a representative sample of 12,612 women about their reproductive life, focusing on the prevalence of spontaneous and induced abortion in the last five years and the associated factors for the various regions of the country and for Brazil as a whole. The sampling method was implemented with a strategy selection in two stages, one for the households and the other for women. The prevalence of spontaneous and induced abortion was estimated for Brazil and regions, and the socio-demographic characteristics of the women were analyzed as a function of the abortion's experience. A multinomial regression model analysis was used for the identification of factors independently associated with both types of abortion; their OR and respective 95% CI are reported. RESULTS: the prevalence of reported spontaneous abortion was 14% and the prevalence of induced abortion was 2.4% for the country as a whole. The state with the highest prevalence of induced abortion was Rio de Janeiro with 6.5%, followed by the Northeast region with 3.1%. The places with the lowest prevalence were the state of São Paulo and the South region. Both spontaneous and induced abortion showed higher prevalences with increasing age of the women studied. Being from the urban area (OR=1.5; 95%CI=1.0-2.3), having had more than one live child (OR=2.2; 95%CI=1.5-3.2) and being non-white (OR=1.4; 95%CI=1.0-1.8) were the main risk factors for induced abortion. CONCLUSIONS: the non-modifiable risk factors for induced abortion identified in this study indicate the need for improvement of educational and contraceptive actions, with priority for these specific demographic groups.OBJETIVO: avaliar a prevalência referida de abortamento espontâneo e induzido, em uma amostra de mulheres brasileiras entrevistadas na Pesquisa Nacional sobre Demografia e Saúde (PNDS), de 1996. MÉTODOS: análise secundária do banco de dados da PNDS de 1996 no Brasil, com informações de entrevistas com uma amostra representativa de 12.612 mulheres sobre sua vida reprodutiva, abordando a prevalência do abortamento espontâneo e induzido nos últimos cinco anos e os fatores associados para as diversas regiões e o total do país. O plano de amostragem foi implementado com uma estratégia de seleção em dois estágios, um para domicílios e outro para as mulheres. Estimou-se a prevalência de abortamento espontâneo e induzido no Brasil e regiões, e as características sociodemográficas das mulheres foram analisadas em função da experiência de aborto. Um modelo de análise de regressão multinomial foi utilizado para identificar os fatores independentemente associados com os dois tipos de aborto, relatando-se seu OR e respectivo IC95%. RESULTADOS: a prevalência do relato de aborto espontâneo foi de 14% e de induzido, 2,4% para todo o Brasil. O estado com maior prevalência de aborto induzido foi o Rio de Janeiro com 6,5%, seguido pela região Nordeste, com 3,1%. Os locais com menor prevalência foram o estado de São Paulo e a região Sul. Tanto para o aborto espontâneo como para o induzido, a prevalência aumenta com a idade da mulher. Ser da região urbana (OR=1,5; IC95%=1,0-2,3), ter tido mais de um filho vivo (OR=2,2; IC95%=1,5-3,2), e não ser de cor/raça branca (OR=1,4; IC95%=1,0-1,8) foram os principais fatores de risco para o aborto induzido. CONCLUSÕES: os fatores de risco não-modificáveis para abortamento induzido identificados neste estudo apontam para a necessidade de ações educativas e anticonceptivas priorizadas para esses grupos demográficos específicos.10511

Delays in access to care for abortion-related complications: the experience of women in Northeast Brazil.

Around 18 million unsafe abortions occur in low and middle-income countries and are associated with numerous adverse consequences to women's health. The time taken by women with complications to reach facilities where they can receive appropriate post-abortion care can influence the risk of death and the extent of further complications. All women aged 18+ admitted for abortion complications to public-sector hospitals in three capital cities in the Northeastern Brazil between August-December 2010 were interviewed; medical records were extracted (N = 2,804). Nearly all women (94%) went straight to a health facility, mainly to a hospital (76.6%); the rest had various care-seeking paths, with a quarter visiting 3+ hospitals. Women waited 10 hours on average before deciding to seek care. 29% reported difficulties in starting to seek care, including facing challenges in organizing childcare, a companion or transport (17%) and fear/stigma (11%); a few did not initially recognize they needed care (0.4%). The median time taken to arrive at the ultimate facility was 36 hours. Over a quarter of women reported experiencing difficulties being admitted to a hospital, including long waits (15%), only being attended after pregnant women (8.9%) and waiting for a bed (7.4%). Almost all women (90%) arrived in good condition, but those with longer delays were more likely to have (mild or severe) complications. In Brazil, where access to induced abortion is restricted, women face numerous difficulties receiving post-abortion care, which contribute to delay and influence the severity of post-abortion complications