[Criteria on the legalization of abortion]. / Algunos criterios para la despenalización del aborto.

We revised ethical concepts related to abortion from the points of view of the mothers; life, health, and considerations are made concerning the embryo or fetus as a biological, ontological, moral, and potential person. Certain religious matters on abortion are described and commented on. Effects of abortion penalization in Mexico and the legislation in the Mexican states are examined, as well as the motives of depenalization in certain countries.

[Acceptance or refusal of abortion for maternal reasons. Survey of 3021 employees of the Federal Government]. / Aceptación o rechazo del aborto por motivos maternos. Encuesta en 3021 empleados del Gobierno Federal.

A survey was conducted among 3021 employees from the Mexican Federal Government regarding their acceptance or rejection of abortion in five different circumstances. Socioeconomic information was obtained from the interviewed and the result was that 23% totally rejected abortion, and 6% accepted abortion in any situation. Abortion was accepted by 61% in case of pregnancy threatens the mother's life; 63% in case a single woman has been raped; 41% if there are so many children and such situation implies economic problems for the family; 13% if the couple prefers to wait for an economic improvement; and 18% if the couple has decided to have no more than two kids. Also from the interviewed, 16% pointed out that abortion must be an exclusive decision from the woman and 29% thought it must be a shared decision with the partner. Abortion is better accepted by young people, by couples with few children or living in free union and by people with higher education level and higher income. It is also better accepted by people with no religion, or people who do not attend religious services or by whom religion does not affect their decisions in life.

Emergency contraception in Mexico City: what do health care providers and potential users know and think about it?

Emergency contraception promises to reduce Mexico's high unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion rates. Because oral contraceptives are sold over-the-counter, several emergency contraceptive regimens are already potentially available to those women who know about the method. Soon, specially packaged emergency contraceptives may also arrive in Mexico. To initiate campaigns promoting emergency contraception, we interviewed health care providers and clients at health clinics in Mexico City, ascertaining knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning the method. We found limited knowledge, but nevertheless cautious support for emergency contraception in Mexico. Health care providers and clients greatly overestimated the negative health effects of emergency contraception, although clients overwhelmingly reported that they would use or recommend it if needed. Although providers typically advocated medically controlled distribution, clients believed emergency contraception should be more widely available, including in schools and vending machines with information prevalent in the mass media and elsewhere.

PIP: An interview was conducted to ascertain knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning emergency contraception (EC) among health care providers and potential EC users in metropolitan Mexico. Findings showed that there was a limited knowledge about EC per se and its method, but nevertheless, most of the participants were cautious to support EC in Mexico. Health care providers and clients greatly overestimated the negative health effects of EC, although clients overwhelmingly reported that they would use or recommend it if needed. Although providers typically advocated medically controlled distribution, clients believe EC should be more widely available, including in schools and vending machines, with information prevalent in the mass media and elsewhere.

Traditional birth attendants in Mexico: advantages and inadequacies of care for normal deliveries.

In Mexico, traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are an essential resource for health care, especially in small rural communities where they attend approximately 45% of all deliveries. Both rural and urban women seek care with the TBAs because, amongst other things, they share the same cultural codes. In this study, qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the concepts, resources and process of care during birth in rural areas of the state of Morelos. Results show that the socio-economic characteristics of the TBAs are similar to those of the patients, that they share the same precarious living conditions, and the resources to which they have access for providing care during births. When choosing a TBA as a health care provider, both the economic aspect and the importance of a shared symbolism come into play. We observed advantages in some of the traditional practices which should be incorporated into the medical system, for example protection through the massage of the perineum at the moment of expulsion. Nevertheless, there are inadequacies for which the implementation of training programs is fundamental, before articulate primary care programs using the TBAs can be promoted.

[Midwives' perception of reproductive risk factors]. / Percepción de las parteras sobre factores de riesgo reproductivo.

Midwives in rural areas of the State of Morelos are one of the most important resources used by rural women for health care of pregnancy, delivery and the puerperium. This work was aimed at identifying midwives perceptions of pregnant women's risk factors, in order to include this knowledge in reproductive health programs which articulate institutional and traditional health systems. We applied a questionnaire to all midwives in the Municipalities of Ocuituco, yecapixtla and Zacualpan, Morelos (n = 35). Four key informants were selected and interviewed. These instruments enabled us to measure variability in perception of risk factors. Knowledge of risk factors is defective among midwives. Previous training made a big difference. Sixty three per cent of midwives who attended training courses are better qualified from an academic medicine point of view. Only 28.7 per cent of non-trained midwives (43% for both groups), indicating that sociocultural aspects prevail over technical training in midwives perceptions of reproductive risk factors.