Repensando o Nascimento como um Direito Integral na Luta contra a Violência Obstétrica no Brasil / Rethinking Birth as a Comprehensive Right in the Fight against Obstetric Violence in Brazil / Reconsiderando el Nacimiento como un Derecho Integral en la Lucha contra la Violencia Obstétrica en Brasil

Objetivo: analisar o impacto da ausência de legislação federal e normativas na mitigação da violência obstétrica no Brasil, por meio de uma análise crítica, com ênfase na regulação legal. Metodologia: inicialmente, realizou-se uma revisão narrativa de abordagem qualiquantitativa e exploratória-descritiva nas bases de dados da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde e da Scientific Electronic Library Online, no período entre 2018 e 2023. Os artigos foram selecionados utilizando descritores do Medical Subject Headings, como "obstetric violence" e "violence against women", combinados através do operador booleano "AND". Posteriormente, foi conduzida uma pesquisa documental buscando consultar a legislação estadual vigente no Brasil e identificar possíveis lacunas. Resultados: Identificou-se uma lacuna considerável em relação à violência obstétrica e à conscientização limitada sobre os direitos à autonomia das mulheres, que são preocupações evidentes. Em relação às legislações estaduais analisadas, 14 fazem menção à "violência obstétrica" e 8 abordam a "humanização do parto". Dessas, 19 têm caráter informativo, 28 são preventivas e 2 são punitivas. Considerações Finais: A ausência de consenso na definição da violência obstétrica e a escassa capacitação dos profissionais de saúde resultam em práticas obsoletas. A elevada taxa de cesarianas desnecessárias e a carência de estudos sobre mulheres quilombolas e indígenas são preocupantes. No âmbito jurídico, a falta de compreensão por parte dos magistrados e a fragmentação das legislações estaduais representam desafios significativos. Torna-se crucial adotar uma abordagem multidisciplinar e políticas públicas claras para prevenir essa violência e assegurar uma assistência ao parto segura e centrada nas necessidades das mulheres.

Objective: To analyze the impact of the absence of federal legislation and regulations on the mitigation of obstetric violence in Brazil through a critical analysis, with emphasis on legal regulation. Methodology: Initially, a narrative review with a qualiquantitative and exploratory-descriptive approach was conducted on the databases of the Virtual Health Library and the Scientific Electronic Library Online, between 2018 and 2023. Articles were selected using Medical Subject Headings descriptors such as "obstetric violence" and "violence against women", combined with the boolean operator "AND". Subsequently, a documentary search was conducted to consult the current state legislation in Brazil and identify possible gaps. Results: A considerable gap was identified regarding obstetric violence and limited awareness of women's autonomy rights, which are evident concerns. Regarding the analyzed state laws, 14 mention "obstetric violence" and 8 address "humanization of childbirth". Of these, 19 are informative, 28 are preventive, and 2 are punitive. Final Considerations: The lack of consensus in defining obstetric violence and the scarce training of healthcare professionals result in obsolete practices. The high rate of unnecessary cesarean sections and the lack of studies on quilombola and indigenous women are concerning. In the legal sphere, the lack of understanding by judges and the fragmentation of state legislation represent significant challenges. It is crucial to adopt a multidisciplinary approach and clear public policies to prevent this violence and ensure safe and woman-centered childbirth care.

Objetivo: Analizar el impacto de la ausencia de legislación federal y normativas en la mitigación de la violencia obstétrica en Brasil mediante un análisis crítico, con énfasis en la regulación legal. Metodología: Inicialmente, se realizó una revisión narrativa con enfoque cualicuantitativo y exploratorio-descriptivo en las bases de datos de la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud y la Scientific Electronic Library Online, entre 2018 y 2023. Se seleccionaron artículos utilizando descriptores del Medical Subject Headings como "obstetric violence" y "violence against women", combinados con el operador booleano "AND". Posteriormente, se realizó una búsqueda documental para consultar la legislación estatal vigente en Brasil e identificar posibles lagunas. Resultados: Se identificó una brecha considerable en relación con la violencia obstétrica y la conciencia limitada de los derechos de autonomía de las mujeres, que son preocupaciones evidentes. En cuanto a las leyes estatales analizadas, 14 mencionan "violencia obstétrica" y 8 abordan la "humanización del parto". De estas, 19 son informativas, 28 son preventivas y 2 son punitivas. Consideraciones Finales: La falta de consenso en la definición de la violencia obstétrica y la escasa formación de los profesionales de la salud resultan en prácticas obsoletas. La alta tasa de cesáreas innecesarias y la falta de estudios sobre mujeres quilombolas e indígenas son preocupantes. En el ámbito legal, la falta de comprensión por parte de los jueces y la fragmentación de la legislación estatal representan desafíos significativos. Es crucial adoptar un enfoque multidisciplinario y políticas públicas claras para prevenir esta violencia y garantizar una atención al parto segura y centrada en las necesidades de las mujeres.

Medical Implications of Restricting Abortions on Women Diagnosed With Fetal Anomalies Following the Overturn of Roe v. Wade: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review addresses the potential maternal health outcomes of abortion restrictions in the U.S. by studying and analyzing the reported effects of abortion bans or limitations globally. The goal was to examine the medical implications for pregnant women who are unable to abort fetuses that have severe medical anomalies due to imposed restrictions. EMBASE, Medline, and CINAHL databases were searched for studies published in English concerning the medical implications of abortion restrictions in any country prior to the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. For the search criteria using Boolean operators, keywords included the terms "fetal anomaly," "abortion ban," and "implications." Inclusion criteria incorporated studies published between 1980 and 2021, and controlled experimental research studies aimed to evaluate interventions were excluded. This resulted in 469 records initially found. Duplicate records were removed, and two separate tier reviews were conducted. Eleven reviewers independently screened abstracts and titles of 332 records to ascertain eligibility. Eligibility included pregnant women diagnosed with fetal anomalies, women denied access to safe abortions, and the maternal and fetal medical impacts of this. Three reviewers in the second screening independently read 36 full articles to further assess eligibility, resulting in 14 articles in the final review. Findings from this study showed that abortion bans in countries around the world have led to health complications in women seeking illegal abortion services, a decline in maternal mental health, including stress and depression, various medical complications such as obstructed labor, and an increase in high-risk fetuses born with severe deficits. The findings of this review portend similar negative consequences to be experienced by women who are subject to stricter abortion laws in the U.S.

Can exposure to sexual objectification impact policy attitudes? Evidence from two survey experiments.

Research in social psychology has long argued that exposure to objectifying portrayals of women can lead to increasingly misogynist attitudes and behavior. We argue that such images can also impact on gendered policy attitudes. We suggest that objectifying images prime sexist attitudes and reduce perceptions of women's agency, warmth, and competence. We argue that this may translate into decreased support for reproductive rights and other gender-salient policies. Furthermore, these effects may vary by the gender of those exposed to these images. In two survey experiments with brief exposures to objectifying images, we find mixed support for these predictions. Although we find some negative effects as predicted, we also find positive effects of objectification among women in the sample that are suggestive of a backlash effect. We discuss potential explanations for this heterogeneity. Overall, our results suggest interesting avenues to further explore the effects of objectification on political outcomes.

Husbands' knowledge and involvement in sexual and reproductive health rights of women in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia: a community-based study.

Background: Sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHRs) are integral elements of the rights of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, but they are the most underdeveloped and least understood sphere of rights, especially in Africa, including the country of Ethiopia. The implementation of women's SRHRs is essential for achieving gender equality and promoting women's rights. Husbands' knowledge and involvement play a significant role in improving women's practice of their SRHRs. However, there is limited information/data about the level of husbands' knowledge and involvement in Northwest Ethiopia, including Bahir Dar City. Therefore, this study aimed to assess husbands' knowledge, involvement, and factors influencing their involvement in women's SRHRs. Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 20 to April 5, 2023, in Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia, among 391 husbands. Multi-stage sampling and simple random sampling technique were applied to select kebeles and study participants, respectively. Participants were interviewed face-to-face using structured and pretested questionnaire. Binary logistic regression was applied to identify associated factors, and a p-value of <0.05 was a cutoff point to declare statistical significance. Results: In this study, 50.6% (198/391) of the husbands had good knowledge about their wives' SRHRs and 44.2% (173/391) (95% CI, 39.3-49.1%) of the husbands were involved when their wives practiced their SRHRs. Access training/education about sexual health [AOR = 5.99; 95% CI (2.7-13.2)], husbands' advance educational level [AOR = 8.81; 95% CI (2.04-38)], good knowledge about SRHRs [AOR = 7.94; 95% CI (4.3-14.4)], low monthly income (<4,600 birr) [AOR = 9.25; 95% CI (4.2-20.5)], and had open discussion with family members and friends about SRHRs [AOR = 1.92; 95% CI (1.01-3.6)] were found to have significant association with husbands' involvement. Conclusion: Husbands' level of knowledge on SRHRs of women and their involvement remain low. Therefore, responsible concerned bodies need to work on the strategies that help to improve men involvement and knowledge, and tackle the above-mentioned factors influencing their involvement.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Young Migrants in Sweden: An Ideal-Type Analysis Exploring Regional Variations of Accessible Documents.

Objectives: This study aims to map sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) policies, strategies, and interventions targeting young migrants and describe the patterns of organisation, resources, and services across Sweden's 21 regions. Methods: We conducted a document analysis of accessible online documents on SRHR policies, strategies, and interventions targeting young migrants in Sweden's 21 regions. We used ideal-type analysis of the documents to create a typology, which formed the basis of a ratings system illustrating variations in organisation, resources, and services across regions. Results: Findings suggest that efforts aimed at addressing young migrants' SRHR are fragmented and unequal across regions. While SRHR policies and strategies are commonplace, they routinely lack specificity. Available resources vary depending on region and resource type. Additionally, information and interventions, although common, do not consistently meet the specific needs of migrant youths. Conclusion: This study suggests that fragmented efforts are fuelling geographic inequalities in fulfilling SRHR among young migrants. There is an urgent need to improve national coordination and collaboration between national and local actors in SRHR efforts targeting young migrants to ensure equity.

Exploring women's motivations to freebirth and their experience of maternity care: A systematic qualitative evidence synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Freebirth is currently defined as the deliberate decision to give birth without a regulated healthcare professional. Previous reviews have identified factors influencing women's decision to freebirth, yet there is limited evidence on what is the care experience for women who opt to freebirth. AIM: To synthesise the qualitative evidence on women's motivations to freebirth and their experience of maternity care when deciding to freebirth. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis using a sensitive search strategy in May 2022 and August 2023. Twenty-two publications between 2008 and 2023 and from ten different high-income countries were included. Thematic synthesis, underpinned by a feminist standpoint, was used to analyse the data. FINDINGS: Three main analytical themes were developed in response to each of the review questions. 'A quest for a safer birth' describes the factors influencing women's decision to freebirth. 'Powerful and powerless midwives' describes women's perceptions of their care providers (mostly midwives) and how these perceptions influenced their decision to freebirth. 'Rites of self-protection' describes women's care experiences and self-care practices in the pregnancy leading to freebirth DISCUSSION: Freebirth was rarely women's primary choice but the result of structural and relational barriers to access wanted care. Self-care in the form of freebirth helped women to achieve a positive birth experience and to protect their reproductive self-determination. CONCLUSION: A new woman-centred definition of freebirth is proposed as the practice to self-care during birth in contexts where emergency maternity care is readily available.

Differences in medically assisted reproduction use by sexual identity and partnership: a prospective cohort of cisgender women.

STUDY QUESTION: Does medically assisted reproduction (MAR) use among cisgender women differ among those with same-sex partners or lesbian/bisexual identities compared to peers with different-sex partners or heterosexual identities? SUMMARY ANSWER: Women with same-sex partners or lesbian/bisexual identities are more likely to utilize any MAR but are no more likely to use ART (i.e. IVF, reciprocal IVF, embryo transfer, unspecified ART, ICSI, and gamete or zygote intrafallopian transfer) compared to non-ART MAR (i.e. IUI, ovulation induction, and intravaginal or intracervical insemination) than their different-sex partnered and completely heterosexual peers. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Sexual minority women (SMW) form families in myriad ways, including through fostering, adoption, genetic, and/or biological routes. Emerging evidence suggests this population increasingly wants to form genetic and/or biological families, yet little is known about their family formation processes and conception needs. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: The Growing Up Today Study is a US-based prospective cohort (n = 27 805). Participants were 9-17 years of age at enrollment (1996 and 2004). Biennial follow-up is ongoing, with data collected through 2021. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Cisgender women who met the following criteria were included in this sample: endorsed ever being pregnant; attempted a pregnancy in 2019 or 2021; and endorsed either a male- or female-sex partner OR responded to questions regarding their sexual identity during their conception window. The main outcome was any MAR use including ART (i.e. procedures involving micromanipulation of gametes) and non-ART MAR (i.e. nonmanipulation of gametes). Secondary outcomes included specific MAR procedures, time to conception, and trends across time. We assessed differences in any MAR use using weighted modified Poisson generalized estimating equations. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Among 3519 participants, there were 6935 pregnancies/pregnancy attempts and 19.4% involved MAR. A total of 47 pregnancies or pregnancy attempts were among the same-sex partnered participants, while 91 were among bisexual participants and 37 among lesbian participants. Participants with same-sex, compared to different-sex partners were almost five times as likely to use MAR (risk ratio [95% CI]: 4.78 [4.06, 5.61]). Compared to completely heterosexual participants, there was greater MAR use among lesbian (4.00 [3.10, 5.16]) and bisexual (2.22 [1.60, 3.07]) participants compared to no MAR use; mostly heterosexual participants were also more likely to use ART (1.42 [1.11, 1.82]) compared to non-ART MAR. Among first pregnancies conceived using MAR, conception pathways differed by partnership and sexual identity groups; differences were largest for IUI, intravaginal insemination, and timed intercourse with ovulation induction. From 2002 to 2021, MAR use increased proportionally to total pregnancies/pregnancy attempts; ART use was increasingly common in later years among same-sex partnered and lesbian participants. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Our results are limited by the small number of SMW, the homogenous sample of mostly White, educated participants, the potential misclassification of MAR use when creating conception pathways unique to SMW, and the questionnaire's skip logic, which excluded certain participants from receiving MAR questions. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Previous studies on SMW family formation have primarily focused on clinical outcomes from ART procedures and perinatal outcomes by conception method, and have been almost exclusively limited to European, clinical samples that relied on partnership data only. Despite the small sample of SMW within a nonrepresentative study, this is the first study to our knowledge to use a nonclinical sample of cisgender women from across the USA to elucidate family formation pathways by partnership as well as sexual identity, including pathways that may be unique to SMW. This was made possible by our innovative approach to MAR categorization within a large, prospective dataset that collected detailed sexual orientation data. Specifically, lesbian, bisexual, and same-sex partnered participants used both ART and non-ART MAR at similar frequencies compared to heterosexual and different-sex partnered participants. This may signal differential access to conception pathways owing to structural barriers, emerging conception trends as family formation among SMW has increased, and a need for conception support beyond specialized providers and fertility clinics. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): The research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), under award number R01MD015256. Additionally, KRSS is supported by NCI grant T32CA009001, AKH by the NCI T32CA057711, PC by the NHLBI T32HL098048, BM by the Stanford Maternal Child Health Research Institute Clinical Trainee Support Grant and the Diversity Fellowship from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Research Institute, BGE by NICHD R01HD091405, and SM by the Thomas O. Pyle Fellowship through the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation and Harvard University, NHLBI T32HL098048, NIMH R01MH112384, and the William T. Grant Foundation grant number 187958. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The first author recently had a leadership role in the not-for-profit program, The Lesbian Health Fund, a research fund focused on improving the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ women and girls. The fund did not have any role in this study and the author's relationship with the fund did not bias the findings of this manuscript. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Respectful maternity care interventions to address women mistreatment in childbirth: What has been done?

INTRODUCTION: Over the last decade, there has been an increasing number of studies regarding experiences of mistreatment, disrespect and abuse (D&A) during facility-based childbirth. These negative experiences during labour have been proven to create a barrier for seeking both facility-based childbirth and postnatal health care, as well as increasing severe postpartum depression among the women who experienced them. This constitutes a serious violation of human rights. However, few studies have carried out specifically designed interventions to reduce these practices. The aim of this scoping review is to synthetise available evidence on this subject, and to identify initiatives that have succeeded in reducing the mistreatment, D&A that women suffer during childbirth in health facilities. METHODS: A PubMed search of the published literature was conducted, and all original studies evaluating the efficacy of any type of intervention specifically designed to reduce these negative experiences and promote RMC were selected. RESULTS: Ten articles were included in this review. Eight studies were conducted in Africa, one in Mexico, and the other in the U.S. Five carried out a before-and-after study, three used mixed-methods, one was a comparative study between birth centres, and another was a quasi-experimental study. The most common feature was the inclusion of some sort of RMC training for providers at the intervention centre, which led to the conclusion that this training resulted in an improvement in the care received by the women in childbirth. Other strategies explored by a small number of articles were open maternity days, clinical checklists, wall posters and constant user feedback. DISCUSSION: These results indicate that there are promising interventions to reduce D&A and promote RMC for women during childbirth in health facilities. RMC training for providers stands as the most proven strategy, and the results suggest that it improves the experiences of care received by women in labour. CONCLUSION: The specific types of training and the different initiatives that complement them should be evaluated through further scientific research, and health institutions should implement RMC interventions that apply these strategies to ensure human rights-based maternity care for women giving birth in health facilities around the world.

The Role of Male Consent in Assisted Reproductive Technology Procedures: an Examination of Japanese Court Cases.

With the development of assisted reproductive technologies, medical, ethical, legal, and social issues have arisen that did not exist when natural conception was the only means of childbirth. In Japan, men tend to believe that assisted reproductive technologies are not directly related to them, with the literature showing that men are often reluctant to be involved in fertility treatment processes. To better understand this situation, this study analyzes the role of male consent during assisted reproductive technology procedures in Japan. First, we examined Japanese court cases that dealt with issues related to male consent during assisted reproductive technology procedures and identified three situations in which problems related to male consent during such procedures may arise. Next, we analyzed the background of such issues and the implications of the lack of consent regarding men's reproductive rights. Finally, we explored the need for legislation on assisted reproductive technologies. The study concludes that discussions on the scope of male partner rights in assisted reproductive technology procedures are key for minimizing unnecessary conflict between partners, thus ensuring both the rights of women who wish to have children and the welfare of their children. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41649-023-00274-1.

Insufficient responses to rape in Ouagadougou: Reflections on the experiences of young female survivors / Insuffisances des réponses aux viols à Ouagadougou : réflexions à partir du vécu de jeunes survivantes.

The rape of girls and women raises questions about both prevention and the response in Burkina Faso. This article looks at the inadequacy of the response to rape in Ouagadougou. It is based on an analysis of cases of rape experienced by young women in the city and documented between 2005 and 2009. The study highlights the gap between the attitude of the victims, whether or not they are inclined to report the act and seek support, and the existing response in this area, whether in their entourage, at the community level, or at the institutional level. The study concludes that there is a need for more in-depth research into the representations and experiences of rape survivors in Ouagadougou and, more broadly, in Burkina Faso. Such research will enable us to identify gaps and appropriate strategies so that survivors are offered a holistic response that is more conducive to respect for their sexual and reproductive rights. Appropriate responses should involve improving the response system, so as to minimize obstacles and make institutional support more accessible to survivors.

Les viols sur des filles et femmes interpellent autant au sujet de leur prévention que par rapport aux réponses qui y sont apportées au Burkina Faso. L'article fournit une réflexion sur les insuffisances de réponses à ces viols à Ouagadougou. La réflexion s'appuie sur l'analyse de cas de viols vécus par des jeunes femmes dans cette ville et documentés entre 2005 et 2009. La réflexion met en exergue le fossé entre la posture des victimes, leur propension ou non à dénoncer l'acte et à rechercher un soutien et la réponse existante en la matière, que cela soit dans leur entourage, au niveau communautaire ou au niveau institutionnel. L'article démontre la nécessité de mener des investigations plus approfondies sur les représentations et le vécu des survivantes de viols à Ouagadougou et, plus largement, au Burkina Faso. Cela permettra d'identifier les gaps à combler ainsi que les stratégies adéquates pour offrir aux survivantes une réponse holistique et plus propice au respect de leurs droits sexuels et reproductifs. Les réponses appropriées devraient passer par l'amélioration du dispositif de réponse, de façon à minimiser ces entraves et à rendre le soutien institutionnel plus accessible aux survivantes.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap: A Toolkit on Reproductive Rights for Pediatric Surgeons in the Post-Dobbs Era.

BACKGROUND: The ripple effect of the Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization has impacted physicians and patients across numerous medical specialties. In pediatric surgery, the patient population ranges from fetus to the pregnant patient. There is a gap in the knowledge of pediatric surgeons regarding abortion laws and access. This project aims to bridge the gap by creating access to reliable resources which may be used to optimize patient care and support physicians. METHODS: We collaborated with the Reproductive Health Coalition, co-founded by the American Medical Women's Association and Doctors for America, to curate a list of resources beneficial to pediatric surgeons. RESULTS: We created a web-based toolkit with the purpose of providing easily accessible and reliable information on reproductive rights in the United States. We identified up-to-date resources on state-by-state abortion laws, legal resources, patient-centered information on obtaining abortion care, and resources for physicians interested in getting involved in advocacy. CONCLUSION: Pediatric surgery rests at a critical juncture with respect to reproductive rights in the United States. Our toolkit enables users to understand the current climate and identify next steps to advocate for patients and physicians amidst a formidable legal environment. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V.

Shared risk and shared responsibility: the ethics of male contraceptives.

INTRODUCTION: Efforts to develop reversible male contraceptives analogous to female oral contraceptives are underway and may be introduced in the next decade. The advent of novel male contraceptives provides an opportunity for an ethical reformulation of the contraceptive paradigm given the relational, rather than individual, nature of sexual relationships, and family planning. For individuals in any sexual relationship that could result in pregnancy, issues of reproductive autonomy, freedom, equality in reproductive decision-making and risks-both of side effects and of unintended pregnancies-are significant. Historically, however, women have been attributed the greatest responsibilities simultaneously with the most restrictions on their freedom of choice and access to reproductive care. OBJECTIVES: In this paper, we extend our prior "shared risk" model of male contraception to one of "shared risk and responsibility" to ethically inform this discourse. CONCLUSIONS: This updated framework more fully captures the complexity of this novel technology and may be of use to regulatory and legal agencies grappling with an intervention that poses medical risks to the member of the relationship who does not face risks of becoming pregnant.

Evaluating participant engagement in a preconception cohort study in relation to the Dobbs decision.

BACKGROUND: On June 24th, 2022, the United States (US) Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson, et al. (hereafter, the Dobbs decision) removed federal-level protections for induced abortion, sparking concerns about reproductive rights and health privacy. Although other pregnancy outcomes (e.g. spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy) are not explicit targets of post-Dobbs abortion bans, study participants may be worried about how their reproductive health data are used by researchers in the post-Dobbs era. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the extent to which the Dobbs decision influenced participant's engagement in a preconception cohort study. METHODS: We leveraged data spanning 20 weeks before and after the Dobbs decision (4 February 2022, to 11 November 2022) from US participants in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an internet-based prospective preconception cohort study of couples attempting conception. We categorised participants' state-level abortion access by residential location: banned or restricted rights; limited access; and protected rights. We evaluated three participant engagement outcomes: follow-up questionnaire completion; report of a pregnancy; and clicking on the invitation link for a fertility-tracking app. We fit separate linear regression models and restricted cubic splines to compare outcome prevalence before and after the Dobbs decision by state-level abortion category. RESULTS: A total of 585 newly enrolled participants and 1247 already-enrolled participants received 2802 invitations to complete a follow-up questionnaire. In states with limited or protected abortion rights, we observed little change in participant engagement. In states with banned or restricted abortion rights, however, we observed a 27.12 percentage point reduction (95% confidence interval -43.68, -10.51) in the prevalence of clicking on the invitation link for the fertility-tracking app comparing the post- versus pre-Dobbs periods. CONCLUSIONS: There was some evidence of reduced participant engagement after the Dobbs decision in states with banned or restricted abortion rights, indicating potentially deleterious effects on the conduct of reproductive health studies.

"That is when I understood everything": Ideological trajectories of pro-choice female doctors in Mexico.

OBJECTIVES: There is little evidence about how physicians become abortion clinicians or advocates. We describe the ideological trajectories of pro-choice female Mexican doctors and the factors that made them pro-choice. STUDY DESIGN: In this qualitative study, we conducted semistructured interviews with members of the Mexican Network of Female Pro-choice Physicians. Participants came from eight diverse states. We used a feminist epistemology approach and analyzed data using inductive coding as well as a priori categories (becoming pro-choice, trajectories, and training). RESULTS: We included 24 female pro-choice physicians. We identified five intersecting factors that influenced becoming pro-choice: feminism, personal experiences, confrontation with the inequalities and violence that women experience, role models, and routine exposure to abortion care. Participants described three ideological trajectories: being pro-choice before studying medicine, not having a specific opinion, and changing from "pro-life" to "pro-choice." Participants described the absence of abortion training in medical schools, stigmatizing training, and the use of alternative training sources. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of training on abortion during medical education, a combination of intersecting personal as well as work-related experience may turn doctors into pro-choice abortion clinicians and/or advocates. The findings of this study may be used to develop comprehensive medical curricula as well as strategies directed at doctors who have never received training on abortion care, such as promoting interactions with nonmedical abortion providers, education on inequalities and violence against women, moving beyond public health to a human rights and gender perspective, and exposure to routine safe abortion care. IMPLICATIONS: Mexican female doctors become pro-choice clinicians who provide abortion care and/or advocates in spite of their medical education.

Foregrounding pain in self-managed early medication abortion: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore experiences of pain in the context of early medical abortion (EMA) in the UK and to guide best practice around anticipatory guidance on pain. METHODS: From late 2020 to early 2021, we recruited individuals from across the UK who had undergone abortion during the COVID-19 pandemic to participate in in-depth, semi-structured telephone interviews. A storytelling approach was used and data were analysed thematically using NVivo 12 software. RESULTS: Focused coding and thematic analysis addressed accounts of pain, which were prominent in many interviews. We constructed the following subthemes: expected pain is manageable for some; the problem with unexpected pain; pain (co)produces fear; and problematising 'period-like pain'. The key issue which our analysis draws out is that while EMA pain experience might vary, for some it may be much worse than anticipated. Moreover, the common trope of likening it to 'period pain' can be misleading and a source of additional uncertainty at a potentially already challenging time. CONCLUSIONS: For some individuals, pain experienced in EMA will be severe and/or worse than expected. Insufficient preparation for pain can result in extremely negative experiences of EMA. Alongside development of improved analgesia, improvements should be made to anticipatory guidance on pain, particularly for those self-manging EMA at home. Framings of 'period-like pain' do not clarify expectations and should be avoided.

Beyond the Tram Lines: Disability Discrimination, Reproductive Rights and Anachronistic Abortion Law.

This article takes as its starting point the recent case of Crowter, which challenged the law permitting provision of abortion on the grounds of fetal anomaly. It begins by briefly locating the case within a longer 'biography' of the Abortion Act 1967, casting important light on the issue raised within it. It then focuses in detail on the claims made in Crowter, exploring how important moral, social and political concerns with disability discrimination were refracted through an anti-abortion lens as they were translated into legal argument. As a result, the legal remedies sought were simultaneously disproportionate and insufficient to address the harms described. Whilst agreeing that the Abortion Act reflects anachronistic and discriminatory understandings of disability and is overdue reform, the article argues that a response that fully reflects modern ethical values will require more radical change than envisaged in Crowter, and that this must refuse an opposition between the rights of pregnant and disabled people.

Direitos reprodutivos das mulheres submetidas à cesárea em Moçambique: uma revisão integrativa / Drets reproductius de les dones sotmeses a cesària a Moçambic: una revisió integradora / Derechos reproductivos de las mujeres sometidas a cesárea en Mozambique: una revisión integradora / Reproductive rights of women undergoing cesarean section in Mozambique: an integrative review

O presente artigo está voltado às questões referentes aos direitos reprodutivos e ao parto cesárea das mulheres em Moçambique. O objetivo foi analisar as ações/estratégias governamentais e não governamentais que visem a efetivação dos direitos reprodutivos das mulheres submetidas ao parto cesárea em Moçambique, discutindo sobre as fragilidades que configuram a violação desses direitos. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura nas bases de dados Elsevier, GALE, PubMed, Web of Science e DOAJ a partir da combinação dos descritores cesarean section OR reproductive rights AND Mozambique. Depois de aplicadas as estratégias de inclusão e exclusão, resultaram 13 artigos elegíveis para elaboração do presente estudo. Os resultados apontam para a falta de aplicabilidade das ações governamentais que, apesar de existirem, ainda são ineficazes para que as mulheres de Moçambique tenham seus direitos reprodutivos garantidos e assistidos.(AU)

Aquest article es centra en qüestions relacionades amb els drets reproductius i el part per cesària de les dones a Moçambic. L'objectiu era analitzar les accions/estratègies tant governamentalscom no governamentals que busquen l'efectivitat dels drets reproductius de les dones sotmeses a cesària a Moçambic, discutint les debilitats que constitueixen la violació d'aquests drets. Per fer-ho, es va realitzar una revisió integradora de la literatura a les bases de dades Elsevier, GALE, PubMed, Web of Science i DOAJ a partir de la combinació dels descriptors cesarean section OR reproductive rights AND Mozambique. Després d'aplicar les estratègies d'inclusió i exclusió, es van obtenir 13 articles elegibles per a l'elaboració del present estudi. Els resultats assenyalen la manca d'aplicabilitat de les accions governamentals que, malgrat existir, encara són ineficaços per garantir i atendre els drets reproductius de les dones a Moçambic.(AU)

El presente artículo se centra en cuestiones relacionadas con los derechos reproductivos y el parto por cesárea de las mujeres en Mozambique. El objetivo fue analizar las acciones/estrategias gubernamentales y no gubernamentales que buscan la efectividad de los derechos reproductivos de las mujeres sometidas a cesárea en Mozambique, discutiendo las debilidades que constituyen la violación de estos derechos. Para ello, se realizó una revisión integradora de la literatura en las bases de datos Elsevier, GALE, PubMed, Web of Science y DOAJ a partir de la combinación de los descriptores cesarean section OR reproductive rights AND Mozambique. Después de aplicar las estrategias de inclusión y exclusión, se obtuvieron 13 artículos elegibles para la elaboración del presente estudio. Los resultados señalan la falta de aplicabilidad de las acciones gubernamentales que, a pesar de existir, aún son ineficaces para garantizary atender los derechos reproductivos de las mujeres en Mozambique.(AU)

This article addresses issues related to reproductive rights and cesarean delivery for women in Mozambique. The objective was to analyze governmental and non-governmental actions / strategies aimed at the realization of the reproductive rights of women submitted to cesarean delivery in Mozambique, discussing the weaknesses that constitute the violation of these rights. To this end, an integrative literature review was carried out in the Elsevier, GALE, PubMed, Web of Science and DOAJ databases based on the combination of the descriptors cesarean section OR reproductive rights AND Mozambique. After applying the inclusion and exclusion strategies, 14 articles were eligible for the preparation of this study. The results point to the lack of applicability of government actions that, although they exist, are still ineffective for women in Mozambique to have their reproductive rights fully guaranteed and assisted.(AU)

Abortion Experiences and Perspectives Amongst Migrants and Refugees: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Access to abortion care is a crucial reproductive health right. Refugees and migrants may have restricted access to and utilisation of abortion care, associated with histories of displacement, precarious migrant and citizenship status and difficulty navigating unfamiliar host country healthcare systems. However, there is limited evidence on the abortion experiences and perspectives of refugees and migrants. Moreover, existing research has not been synthesised to identify trends informing sexual and reproductive care access among this marginalised population. This systematic review aimed to address this gap in the cumulative evidence on refugee and migrant experiences and perspectives of abortion in host countries. (2) Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched the following databases for studies on refugee and migrant abortion attitudes, decision making and experiences: Embase, Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, Sociological Abstracts, and Scopus. We also searched the grey literature on the same. Inclusion criteria specified qualitative studies involving migrant and/or refugee populations, examining their abortion experiences, attitudes or perspectives, written in English, published between January 2000 and December 2022. Two reviewers screened titles, abstracts and full-text articles, resulting in 27 articles included in the review, following consensus checks by two co-authors. The included studies were assessed for methodological quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool. (3) Results: Abortion was stigmatised and generally considered impermissible and undesirable. However, participants discussed socioculturally determined 'exceptions' to this, positing circumstances where abortion was acceptable. There were striking differences in experiences between participants in higher-income settings and those in lower- and middle-income settings. Difficulties accessing care were ubiquitous but were heightened in lower-resource settings and among participants with precarious citizenship, financial and legal statuses. (4) Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for an international convention to guide policy and programming that acknowledges the specific abortion requirements of migrant and refugee communities, with attention to their financial, legal and social precarity.