[Association between induced abortion and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis]. / Asociación entre aborto inducido y depresión: una revisión sistemática y metaanálisis.

This article is a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) whose objective was to identify the association between induced abortion and the development of depression, based on the Cochrane guidelines for SRs. A systematic search was carried out in the WoS, PubMed and Scopus databases. Retrospective and prospective cohort studies, carried out until November 2020, that evaluated a population of women in childbearing age (12 to 46 years) with at least 1 induced and/or provoked abortion, including pharma-cological and surgical abortion. Only studies with healthy women at the beginning of the research were included, i.e., with absence of psychiatric pathology prior to induced abor-tion. The quality of the included studies was measured with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and for the MA random-effects models were specified using the DerSimonian & Laird method, grouping them into follow-up after abortion before and after one year. The results of the SR were measured with relative risk (RR), hazard ratio (HR), odds ratio (OR), and the chi-square test, which assessed the intensity of the statistical relationship between population and exposure. Systematic review demonstrated an OR of 1.38 (95% CI 1.14-1.68) of depression after induced abortion. Meta-analysis demonstrated a statis-tically significant association between depression and induced abortion when the as-sessment after one year was performed OR: 1.37 (95% CI 1.09-1.71). The risks, harms and mental health consequences of induced abortion, such as depression, should be in-vestigated and warned.

El presente artículo es una revisión sistemática (RS) y metaanálisis (MA) cuyo objetivo fue identificar la asociación entre el aborto inducido y el desarrollo de depresión, con base en los lineamientos Cochrane para RS. Se hizo la búsqueda sistemática en las bases de datos WoS, PubMed y Scopus. Se incluyeron estudios de cohorte retrospectivos y prospectivos, hasta noviembre de 2020, que evaluaron una población de mujeres en edad fértil (12 a 46 años) con al menos un aborto inducido o provocado, incluido el aborto farmacológico y el quirúrgico. Solo se incluyeron estudios con mujeres sanas al inicio de la investigación, es decir, con ausencia de patología psiquiátrica previa al aborto inducido. La calidad de los estudios incluidos se midió con la Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) y para el MA se especificaron modelos de efectos aleatorios con el método de DerSimonian & Laird y se agruparon en seguimiento posterior al aborto antes y después de un año. Los resultados de la RS fueron medidos con riesgo relativo (RR), hazard ratio (HR), odds ratio (OR) y la prueba de chi cuadrado, que valoraron la intensidad de la relación estadística entre la población y la exposición. La RS demostró un OR 1.38 (IC 95% 1.14-1.68) de depresión tras el aborto inducido. El MA demostró una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la depresión y el aborto inducido cuando se hizo la evaluación posterior a un año OR: 1.37 (IC 95% 1.09-1.71). Se deberían investigar y advertir los riesgos, daños y consecuencias en la salud mental, como la depresión, tras el aborto inducido.

Socio-ecological influences on access to abortion care in Costa Rica: a qualitative analysis of key perspectives from clinical and policy stakeholders.

Costa Rica prohibits abortion except under narrow circumstances to save the pregnant person's life. The country boasts historically strong support for social policy and human rights, while also presenting a complex and restrictive abortion access landscape. From September 2021 to March 2022, we conducted 23 interviews with obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) physicians, OB/GYN medical residents, and policy stakeholders to explore the socio-ecological influences on abortion access in Costa Rica. We sampled clinicians and policy stakeholders from the Universidad de Ciencias Médicas listserv through snowball sampling and conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews in Spanish. We identified limited access to comprehensive sexual health education, lack of support from interpersonal networks, inadequate provider knowledge and training, financial and migratory status, and both provider and community stigma as substantial barriers to abortion access. This study addresses a gap in published research around the social determinants of abortion in Costa Rica and sheds light on the attitudes and opinions of the medical and policy stakeholder communities about abortion access. The results highlight the need for expanded access to comprehensive sexual health education, abortion-related training for healthcare providers, and increased programming efforts, such as funding, outreach, and implementation, to ensure comprehensive reproductive health services are available and accessible, especially for vulnerable populations in Costa Rica.

Reproductive rights legislation influences cardiothoracic surgery training options.

OBJECTIVES: Training in cardiothoracic surgery coincides with a time when many plan their families. Many choose to delay childbearing until the end of training, 33% of women and 20% of men reported using assisted reproductive technology (ART). States have varying laws regarding abortion and ART, which can influence these decisions. Our purpose was to elucidate the intersection of such laws and the training positions available in cardiothoracic surgery. METHODS: We identified abortion laws, abortion laws regarding insurance coverage, personhood laws that potentially influence ART, and insurance coverage of ART using publicly available data. We created choropleth maps with cardiothoracic surgery training positions identified using the National Resident Matching Program Match data for 2024. RESULTS: We found that 29.4% of cardiothoracic surgery programs (47 out of 160) are situated in states with abortion restrictions. Of 48 integrated training positions, 10 are in states with abortion restrictions. Similarly, 32 of 95 traditional thoracic positions and 5 of 17 congenital positions are in states abortion restrictions. A total of 25.6% of cardiothoracic training programs reside in states that grant personhood before birth, potentially affecting ART. Insurance coverage for abortion and ART are variable. CONCLUSIONS: Valuing reproductive rights like access to abortion, insurance coverage, and ART can potentially influence training opportunities in cardiothoracic surgery.

Incidence and recurrence of bovine abortion in dairy cattle from Costa Rica.

The reproductive efficiency and milk yield of cows are crucial factors in a dairy farm's profitability. However, abortions can have a negative impact on these factors. While the morbidity of abortion has been estimated in many countries, information on the burden on dairy cattle in tropical conditions is limited, and Costa Rica is a good example. This study aims to assess the incidence and recurrence of bovine abortion in dairy cattle from Costa Rica. The study analysed the morbidity of abortion in Costa Rican dairy herds between 2010 and 2022. The incidence rate (IR) and the recurrence rate (ReR) were calculated per 100 cow-months at risk using data from the Veterinary Automated Management and Production Control Programme (VAMPP). The dataset comprised 1032,457 lactations from 330,265 cows in 1134 specialized dairy herds. Abortions were classified either as early foetal mortality (EFM) or late foetal mortality (LFM). Rates were estimated based on cow breed, lactation number, and ecological zone to which the farm belongs. The IR of general abortion, EFM, and LFM cases were 0.98, 0.41, and 0.57 per 100 cow-months at risk, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found in the IR between cow breed, lactation number, and ecological zone, nor for the trend of abortions over calving years. The first ReR (for cows that had one previous abortion during the lactation) was 0.95, and the second ReR (for cows that had two previous abortions during the lactation) was 1.41 per 100 cow-months at risk. These results suggest that bovine abortions are an important ongoing problem in dairy farms in Costa Rica with potentially detrimental effects on the reproductive and productive performance of cows and may be representative of other specialized tropical dairy systems in Latin America.

Profile of female survivors of sexual violence in the first 6 months of the COVID-19 quarantine in the city of Campinas, Brazil: A cross-sectional retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Describe the characteristics and changes in the profile of women who sought care after experiencing sexual violence (SV) during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in a Brazilian city. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study. Data from emergency care and legal abortion requests of women assisted at the Women's Health Care Center Hospital (School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, Brazil) due to SV experienced between March 23 and August 23, 2020 (Quarantine Group, QG), were collected and compared with data from the same period of the previous biennium (Comparison Group, CG). χ2 and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare groups; the significance level was 5%. RESULTS: Data for 236 women were analyzed; 70 women were included in the QG and 166 in the CG. In the QG, there was a restriction in the area of origin of women, with a higher proportion of women who lived in Campinas (P = 0.0007) and a higher frequency of chronic SV (P = 0,035). There were no rapes associated with the use of social media or apps in the QG, but 9.8% of women in the CG experienced rape associated with the use of social media or apps. There were higher rates of domestic violence (P = 0.022) and intimidation through physical force (P = 0.011) in the first two months. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 quarantine affected the profile of women who sought care after experiencing SV. The quarantine resulted in changes in the area of origin of patients, hindering access to health services and leading to higher rates of chronic and domestic SV, particularly in the first 2 months of the pandemic.

Prevalence of karyotype alterations in couples with recurrent pregnancy loss in a tertiary center in Brazil.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and type of chromosomal abnormalities in Brazilian couples with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and compare the clinical characteristics of couples with and without chromosome abnormalities. Methods: We assessed the medical records of 127 couples with a history of two or more miscarriages, referred to a tertiary academic hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, from January 2014 to May 2023. Karyotype was generated from peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures, and cytogenetic analysis was performed according to standard protocols by heat-denatured Giemsa (RHG) banding. Results: Abnormal karyotypes were detected in 10 couples (7.8%). The prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was higher among females (6.3%) compared to males (2.0%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.192). The mean number of miscarriages was. 3.3 ± 1.1 in couples with chromosome abnormalities and 3.1 ± 1.5 in couples without chromosome abnormalities (p=0.681). Numerical chromosomal anomalies (6 cases) were more frequent than structural anomalies. Four women presented low-grade Turner mosaicism. No differences were found between couples with and without karyotype alterations, except for maternal age, which was higher in the group with chromosome alterations. Conclusion: The prevalence of parental chromosomal alterations in our study was higher than in most series described in the literature and was associated with increased maternal age. These findings suggest that karyotyping should be part of the investigation for Brazilian couples with RPL, as identifying the genetic etiology may have implications for subsequent pregnancies.

[Women's rescuers network: Community support for self-managed abortion in Argentina]. / Socorristas en red: Soporte comunitario a la autogestión del aborto en Argentina.

The availability of medications to induce abortion, especially in contexts of restricted access, has transformed practices and allowed women and/or their community organizations to assist other women in obtaining abortions, whether or not they interact with the healthcare system. This study recovers the experience of a feminist community organization that, from the province of Neuquén, extends throughout the country, creating a network of community care. An exploratory descriptive study with a qualitative approach was conducted to analyze the experiences of women who facilitate access to permitted abortion in Argentina. Through in-depth interviews with three leaders of the feminist collective La Revuelta and semi-structured interviews with 33 members of the socorrista groups, conducted between November 2019 and December 2020, we describe their history and processes of work and growth; we explore their motivations and feelings and characterize the interactions of these organizations with public and private health systems. The results of this work align with the international conversation and bibliographic production about these organizations and their particularities, and with the need to incorporate these forms of care into institutional health systems.

La disponibilidad de medicamentos para producir un aborto, sobre todo en contextos de acceso restringido, transformó las prácticas y permitió que las propias mujeres y/o sus organizaciones comunitarias ayuden a otras mujeres a abortar, interactuando o no con el sistema de salud. Este estudio recupera la experiencia de una organización feminista de la comunidad que, desde la provincia de Neuquén, se extiende a todo el país, generando una red de cuidados comunitarios. Se realizó un estudio exploratorio descriptivo, con enfoque cualitativo con el propósito de analizar las experiencias de las mujeres que facilitan el acceso al aborto permitido en Argentina. A través de entrevistas en profundidad a tres líderes de la colectiva feminista La Revuelta y de entrevistas semiestructuradas a 33 integrantes de las grupas socorristas, realizadas entre noviembre de 2019 y diciembre de 2020, describimos su historia y los procesos de trabajo y crecimiento; exploramos sus motivaciones y sentimientos y caracterizamos las interacciones de dichas organizaciones con los sistemas de salud público y privado. Los resultados de este trabajo coinciden con la conversación y la producción bibliográfica internacional acerca de estas organizaciones y sus particularidades y con la necesidad de incorporar estos cuidados a los sistemas de salud institucionales.

HIV and induced abortion among migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Île-de-France: Results of the PARCOURS study.

Introduction: HIV heavily affects sub-Saharan African women living in France and can impact reproductive decisions. It was investigated whether HIV was associated with induced abortion in pregnancies held after migration by women from sub-Saharan Africa living in Île-de-France. Methods: We used data on ANRS Parcours, a retrospective life event survey conducted in health facilities in the metropolitan region of Paris, between February 2012 and May 2013, with migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Data on the history of pregnancies were collected among women living with HIV (HIV group) and those attending primary care centers (reference group). We investigated 242 women in the reference group, who had 729 pregnancies, and the 277 women in the HIV group, who had 580 pregnancies. The association between abortion and HIV was evaluated using clustered logistic models, successively adjusted for women and pregnancy characteristics, for the whole sample, and stratified by pregnancy intendedness. Results: In the reference group, 11.0 % of pregnancies were terminated in abortion, the same situation as 14.1 % in the HIV group (p = 0.124). HIV was not associated with abortion in the crude and adjusted models. However, after adjustments, HIV exhibited a non-significant trend towards reducing the likelihood of abortion, particularly when considering the intendedness of pregnancy variable. Conclusions: Factors that shape the overall context of women's lives and pregnancies, which are shared with the reference group, may have a more significant impact on reproductive decision-making than HIV alone. Health services must pay attention to the intendedness of pregnancies, providing advice and support on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission to women living with HIV who intend to become pregnant, in addition to strengthening the provision of family planning and the prevention of unintended pregnancies.

Conflictos éticos en un contexto de gestión pública: objeción de conciencia y aborto en la red sanitaria pública española

En este artículo se sostiene, en primer lugar, que (1) la persistencia a nivel internacional de debates éticos en torno al estatus moral del nasciturus y (2) el tradicional compromiso deontológico de los profesionales sanitarios con la salud, tanto de la embarazada como del hijo que espera, dotan de pleno sentido y vigencia al derecho a la objeción de conciencia de dichos profesionales. Sin embargo, donde el aborto legal se configura como prestación sanitaria, surge entonces la dificultad de gestionar esa prestación y, al tiempo, el conflicto moral que expresa la objeción de conciencia. Si en una institución sanitaria pública la objeción es generalizada, se plantea una disyuntiva con implicaciones éticas entre derivar a las gestantes a otras instituciones o aplicar estrategias de integración de personal a nivel de servicio de salud. En el caso de España, se ha aprobado este año una reforma de la Ley Orgánica de salud sexual y reproductiva y de la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo (LOSSRIVE), que manifiesta una voluntad más taxativa de que la objeción de conciencia no impida el acceso al aborto en las instituciones sanitarias públicas, estableciéndose previsiones específicas al efecto. A partir de los trabajos parlamentarios identificamos los principales puntos de discrepancia política que remiten a dispares posiciones de fondo sobre el aborto y afectan al propio planteamiento de la reforma, así como a otros elementos no siempre novedosos -algunos de ellos ya estaban en la LOSSRIVE o se venían aplicando a nivel autonómico con el plácet del Constitucional.

This article argues, first, that (1) the persistence at the international level of ethical debates on the moral status of nasciturus and (2) the traditional ethical commitment of health professionals to the health of both the pregnant woman and the unborn child, give full sense and validity to the right to conscientious objection of these professionals. However, where legal abortion is configured as a health care service, the difficulty of managing this service and, at the same time, the moral conflict expressed by conscientious objection arises. If, in a public health institution, objection is widespread, there is a dilemma with ethical implications between referring pregnant women to other institutions or implementing staff integration strategies at the health service level. In the case of Spain, a reform of the Organic Law on Sexual and Reproductive Health and the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy (LOSSRIVE) was approved this year, which shows a more stringent willingness that conscientious objection does not prevent access to abortion in public health institutions, establishing specific provisions to that effect. Based on the parliamentary work, we identified the main points of political discrepancy, which remit to different basic positions on abortion and affect the very approach of the reform, as well as other not always new elements -some of them were already in the LOSSRIVE or were already being applied at the regional level with the approval of the Constitutional Court.

Este artigo argumenta, em primeiro lugar, que (1) a persistência, em nível internacional, de debates éticos sobre o status moral do nascituro e (2) o tradicional compromisso deontológico dos profissionais de saúde com a saúde da gestante e do filho que ela espera, dão pleno sentido e vigência ao direito à objeção de consciência desses profissionais. Entretanto, quando o aborto legal é configurado como um serviço de saúde, surge a dificuldade de gerir esse serviço e, ao mesmo tempo, gerir o conflito moral expresso pela objeção de consciência. Se, em uma instituição de saúde pública, a objeção for generalizada, haverá uma escolha com implicações éticas entre encaminhar as gestantes a outras instituições ou aplicar estratégias de integração de pessoal no nível do serviço de saúde. No caso da Espanha, foi aprovada este ano uma reforma da Lei Orgânica de Saúde Sexual e Reprodutiva e a Interrupção Voluntária da Gravidez (LOSSRIVE) que expressa uma vontade mais constrangedora de garantir que a objeção de consciência não impeça o acesso ao aborto em instituições públicas de saúde, estabelecendo disposições específicas para esse fim. Com base no trabalho parlamentar, identificamos os principais pontos de discrepância política, que remetem a diferentes posições de fundo sobre aborto e afetam a própria aproximação da reforma, assim como outros elementos que nem sempre são novos -alguns deles já estavam no LOSSRIVE ou já estavam sendo aplicados em nível regional com a aprovação do Tribunal Constitucional-.

Programa Atenas: serviço pioneiro de atenção extra hospitalar ao aborto no primeiro trimestre por telemedicina / Atenas Program: Pioneer Brazilian service of outpatient care by telemedicine for women with miscarriage or incomplete abortion

RESUMO A criminalização do aborto no Brasil e o acesso restrito ao misoprostol obrigam mulheres a buscarem métodos inseguros para sua indução. Atenção hospitalar ao aborto induzido ou espontâneo é padrão. Na contracorrente, no cenário internacional, a telessaúde no aborto medicamentoso é padrão ouro da atenção às perdas gestacionais, espontâneas ou induzidas. Este artigo apresenta o Programa Atenas iniciativa inédita de atenção ao aborto no primeiro trimestre gestacional - com foco no atendimento extra-hospitalar, através de monitoramento telefônico por enfermeiras, facultando às mulheres escolher o método de esvaziamento uterino (expectante, medicamentoso ou cirúrgico), com vistas à humanização da atenção. Foi realizada pesquisa etnográfica, em maternidade pública nordestina, entre 2014 e 2021. No contexto de dificuldades estruturais e conjunturais, 723 participantes foram atendidas; 73,6% prescindiram de hospitalização para resolução do aborto: 58,4% ocorreram de forma espontânea e 15,2% através do misoprostol hospitalar. Não houve registro de complicações. O monitoramento telefônico promoveu vínculo e cuidado individualizado a este público invisibilizado. Esta iniciativa orgânica do SUS, sem apoio financeiro de órgãos externos, representa um avanço na atenção humanizada às mulheres com aborto. Recomenda-se estender a toda rede pública de saúde, visando ampliação do acesso a um cuidado integral e humanizado no aborto.

ABSTRACT The criminalization of abortion and restricted access to misoprostol in Brazil force women to seek unsafe methods to terminate a pregnancy. Hospital care for miscarriage or abortion is standard. In contrast, telemedicine for the medical management of miscarriage and abortion is the gold standard of care internationally. This article presents the Atenas Program - an unprecedented initiative for first trimester abortion/miscarriage care, aiming at a humanized out-of-hospital service based on telephone monitoring by nurses, allowing women to choose the method of uterine evacuation (expectant, medical or surgical). For this purpose, ethnographic research was carried out in a northeastern public maternity hospital, between 2014 and 2021. In the context of structural and conjunctural difficulties, among the 723 Atenas participants, 73,6% dispensed with hospital admission for miscarriage and abortion resolution: 58,4% occurred spontaneously and 15,2% through hospital misoprostol. No complications were registered. Telephone monitoring by nurses provided the basis for continuity of individualized care for this invisibilized public. Atenas Program, initiative of a SUS institution run without external financial support, represents an advance in humanized care for women with miscarriage and abortion. It should be extended to the entire public health network, to expand access to rounded and humanized care for abortion and miscarriage.

Democracia representativa: uma leitura interseccional sobre a atuação legislativa da Frente Parlamentar de Combate ao Aborto ­ "Pró-vida", no Estado de Goiás / Representative democracy: An intersectional review of the legislative action of the Parliamentary Front to Combat Abortion ­ "Pro-life", in the State of Goiás / Democracia representativa: Una revisión interseccional de la acción legislativa del Frente Parlamentario de Lucha contra el Aborto ­ "Provida", en el Estado de Goiás

Objetivo: Analisar, a partir da perspectiva crítica e interseccional, a organização, composição e atuação legislativa de comissão voltada aos direitos sexuais e reprodutivos de mulheres, denominada Frente Parlamentar de Combate ao Aborto ­ Pró-Vida. Metodologia: Foi realizada leitura interseccional acerca da constituição de Frente Parlamentar de Combate ao Aborto - "Pró-Vida", da Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de Goiás (ALEGO), e o perfil sociodemográfico de seus integrantes foi traçado, discutido a luz dos marcadores sociais gênero, raça/etnia, classe social e religião, e problematizado acerca de um tema que implica diretamente na saúde e na vida das mulheres, o aborto. Resultados e Discussão: a análise dos resultados aponta a sub-representividade feminina, a prevalência de pessoas brancas e o predomínio de ideologia conservadora nos costumes e religião no perfil sociodemográfico dos membros integrantes da frente parlamentar estudada. Em contraponto, a literatura, ao discutir os marcadores sociais em investigação, traz o retrato daquelas que optam por realizar o aborto como sendo o de mulheres negras, de baixa renda e escolaridade, e que procuram em partidos de viés progressista advocacia para suas causas. Conclusão: A estrutura tradicional, presente na frente parlamentar investigada, enfrenta desafios na construção de um debate representativo e capaz de reproduzir nas políticas públicas as complexas identidades, necessidades e experiências das mulheres em risco de abortamento. Nessa argumentação, a construção de práticas políticas e tratos legislativos devem, prioritariamente, considerar as complexidades identitárias e as intersecções e opressões que levam as mulheres ao aborto para, enfim, construir-se uma democracia inclusiva, equitativa e representativa.

Objective: Analyze, from a critical and intersectional perspective, the organization, composition and legislative performance of a commission focused on women's sexual and reproductive rights, called the Parliamentary Front to Combat Abortion ­ Pró-Vida. Methodology: An intersectional reading was carried out regarding the constitution of the Parliamentary Front to Combat Abortion - "Pró-Vida", of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Goiás (ALEGO), and the sociodemographic profile of its members was outlined, discussed in light of social markers, gender, race/ethnicity, social class and religion and problematized about a topic that directly affects women's health and lives, abortion. Results and discussion: analysis of the results points to female underrepresentation, the prevalence of white people and the predominance of conservative ideology in customs and religion in the sociodemographic profile considered. In contrast, the literature, when discussing the social markers under investigation, portrays those who choose to have an abortion as black women, with low income and education, and who look to parties with a progressive bias to advocate for their causes. Conclusion: The traditional structure present in the Parliamentary Front investigated faces challenges in building a representative debate capable of reproducing in public policies the complex identities, needs and experiences of women at risk of miscarriage. In this argument, the construction of political practices and legislative approaches must primarily consider the complexities of identity and the intersections and oppressions that lead women to abortion in order to, ultimately, build an inclusive, equitable and representative democracy.

Objetivo: Analizar, desde una perspectiva crítica e interseccional, la organización, composición y desempeño legislativo de una comisión enfocada en los derechos sexuales y reproductivos de las mujeres, denominada Frente Parlamentario de Lucha contra el Aborto ­ Pró-Vida. Metodología: Se realizó una lectura interseccional sobre la constitución del Frente Parlamentario de Lucha contra el Aborto - "Pró-Vida", de la Asamblea Legislativa del Estado de Goiás (ALEGO), y se delineó el perfil sociodemográfico de sus integrantes, discutido a la luz de marcadores sociales, género, raza/etnia, clase social y religión y problematizados sobre un tema que afecta directamente la salud y la vida de las mujeres, el aborto. Resultados y discusión: el análisis de los resultados apunta a la subrepresentación femenina, el predominio de personas blancas y el predominio de la ideología conservadora en las costumbres y la religión en el perfil sociodemográfico considerado. En contraste, la literatura, al discutir los marcadores sociales bajo investigación, retrata a quienes eligen abortar como mujeres negras, con bajos ingresos y educación, y que buscan partidos con un sesgo progresista para defender sus causas. Conclusión: La estructura tradicional presente en el Frente Parlamentario investigado enfrenta desafíos en la construcción de un debate representativo capaz de reproducir en políticas públicas las complejas identidades, necesidades y experiencias de las mujeres en riesgo de aborto espontáneo. En este argumento, la construcción de prácticas políticas y enfoques legislativos debe considerar principalmente las complejidades de la identidad y las intersecciones y opresiones que llevan a las mujeres al aborto para, en última instancia, construir una democracia inclusiva, equitativa y representativa.

Prevalence of congenital anomalies and prenatal diagnosis by birth institution (public vs. non-public): indicators of inequality in access to elective termination of pregnancy for fetal anomalies.

Congenital anomalies (CA) encompass all morphological or functional alterations originating prenatally and present at birth. The prenatal diagnosis of these anomalies can significantly impact the overall health of the pregnant individual and may influence her decision regarding the continuation of the pregnancy. In contexts where safe pregnancy termination is not guaranteed by the state, it can lead to unsafe procedures with severe consequences. In our research, we analyzed epidemiological information on CA to develop potential indicators of inequity in access to safe abortion prior to the legalization of legal termination of pregnancy in Argentina. We included cases from 13 public hospitals and 9 non-public subsector hospitals, from the period 2013-2020. Two groups of specific CA were selected: 1) CA capable of being prenatally diagnosed, and 2) CA related to vascular disruptive events. 10/18 of the selected CA capable of being prenatally diagnosed had a significantly higher prevalence in public hospitals (anencephaly, encephalocele, spina bifida, microcephaly, hydrocephalus, holoprosencephaly, hydranencephaly, diaphragmatic hernia, gastroschisis, bilateral renal agenesis). Non public hospitals had higher prenatal detection. Birth prevalence of CA related with vascular disruptive events (limb reduction, Moebius syndrome, amniotic band sequence) were significantly higher in public hospitals. These results suggest disparities in access to prenatal diagnosis and safe abortion based on socioeconomic status. There was a significant gap in access to prenatal diagnosis for CA and possibly to safe elective abortion depending on the type of institution (public vs. non-public).

Effectiveness and safety of medication abortion via telemedicine versus in-person: A cohort of pregnant people in Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and safety of medication abortion (MAB) via telemedicine versus in-person in pregnant people with less than 12 gestational weeks in Colombia. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 23,362 pregnant people who requested MAB service from Profamilia (a Colombian non-governmental organization) in 2021-2022. The outcomes were success and safety of MAB. We performed a descriptive and a multivariate statistical analysis using the binary regression model to obtain an adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) to identify factors associated with abortion success. RESULTS: In comparison to in-person care (n = 20,289), individuals in telemedicine (n = 3073) were predominantly from urban areas, belonged to a lower socioeconomic stratum, single and did not identify with any ethnic group. In-person users tended to have higher levels of education and accessed the service through private insurance (p < 0,05). There were no differences in the odd of a successful abortion based on the modality of care (aOR 1.18; 95% CI=0.87-1.59). The results were also the same with sensitivity analysis stratified: pregnant people who were nine weeks gestation or less (aOR 0.86; 95% CI=0.63-1.17) or more (aOR 0.87; 95% CI=0.28-2.65). CONCLUSION: Telemedicine is an effective and safe option for MAB, as in-person care. Telemedicine has the potential to increase abortion access by extending the availability of providers and offering people a new option for obtaining care conveniently and privately, especially for women with disadvantaged socioeconomic and educational background. IMPLICATIONS: This study demonstrates that medication abortion (MAB) administered via telemedicine produces outcomes akin to those of in-person care, providing a compelling rationale for its adoption, particularly in underserved regions. This approach can be replicated in other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Seeking abortion accompaniment: experiences and self-managed abortion preferences of hotline callers after abortion legalisation in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Until the legalisation of abortion in Argentina in 2021, the Socorristas en Red, a network of feminist collectives, provided support and information ('accompaniment') to people self-managing their abortion with medications. Following legalisation, the Socorristas continued accompanying people self-managing or accessing abortion through the healthcare system. We conducted a cross-sectional study to understand preferences, experiences and choices about abortion when contacting a Socorristas hotline after legalisation of abortion in Argentina. METHODS: We surveyed callers to the Socorristas' hotline in Neuquén, Argentina about their demographics, pregnancy history, reasons for calling, and experiences seeking abortion through the hotline and the healthcare system. We assessed overall prevalence of these experiences, and analysed differences between people who contacted the health system before calling the hotline and those who first called the hotline for services. RESULTS: Of the 755 callers in the study, the majority (63.3%) contacted the Socorristas because they trusted them, and 21.7% called because they both trusted the Socorristas and did not want to go to the healthcare system. At the end of the call, most people (95.4%) chose to self-manage their abortion with accompaniment outside the healthcare system. People who called the healthcare system prior to contacting the hotline frequently reported being referred to the Socorristas, as well as challenges scheduling appointments. CONCLUSIONS: After legalisation of abortion in Argentina there is continued demand for accompaniment. Globally, ensuring that accompaniment and self-management of abortion is legal and protected will provide individuals with the support and facilitated access to the abortion care they desire.

Mapping social movements momentum: unveiling networks in the movement for the right to abortion in Mexico.

In this case study, we propose a network analysis approach to map social movements through an intersectional feminist lens. We aim to gain a more in-depth understanding of movements' network structures to examine the roles and relationships of movement actors, the flow of resources between them, and potential areas of collaboration and conflict. By incorporating Social Network Analysis (SNA) techniques and visually mapping dynamics within social movements, this approach can assess the significance of small actors in creating change and stresses the need for their perspectives to be heard. Furthermore, our methodology adopts a feminist intersectional framework that recognizes the role of different identities in shaping the movement and its actors. To demonstrate the practical application of this approach, we examined the movement for the right to abortion in Mexico between September and December 2021. Our multi-step process included (1) designing a survey tool adapted to the context of the movement, (2) collecting and analyzing survey responses on movement actors' relationships and interactions, including their priorities, activities, needs, risks, and challenges, (3) visualizing the network using SNA techniques that account for the complexity and diversity of the movement, (4) interpreting the findings through insights collected in semi-structured interviews and validation meetings with key movement actors, and (5) implementing safety and security guidelines to safeguard the identity of individuals whose activities could put them at risk of suffering institutional, emotional, and physical violence. Our case study offers valuable insights that not only encourage the integration of feminist and intersectional perspectives into data collection processes but also provide a roadmap for accompanying social movements and supporting meaningful and contextually responsive activities.

Motivations for using misoprostol for abortion outside the formal healthcare system in Colombia: a qualitative study of women seeking postabortion care in Bogotá and the Coffee Axis.

BACKGROUND: In 2006, a Constitutional Court ruling partially decriminalized abortion in Colombia, allowing the procedure in cases of rape, risk to the health or life of the woman, and fetal malformations incompatible with life. Despite this less prohibitive law, some women and pregnant people preferred self-managing their abortions outside the formal healthcare system, often without accurate information. In 2018, we undertook a study to understand what motivated women to self-manage using medications that they acquired informally. Colombia has since adopted a progressive law in 2022, permitting abortion on request through the 24th week of pregnancy. However, the implementation of this law is still underway. Examining the reasons why women chose to informally self-manage an abortion after 2006 may not only highlight how barriers to legal services persisted at that time, but also could inform strategies to increase knowledge of the current abortion law and improve access to services going forward. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted in 2018 with 47 women aged 18 and older who used misoprostol obtained outside of health facilities to induce an abortion, and who were receiving postabortion care in two private clinics. Interviews explored what women knew about the 2006 abortion law which was then in effect, and the reasons why they preferred informal channels for abortion care over formal healthcare services. RESULTS: Women's motivations to use misoprostol obtained outside the formal healthcare system were influenced by lack of trust in the healthcare system along with incomplete and inaccurate knowledge of the abortion law. Conversely, women considered misoprostol obtained outside the healthcare system to be effective, affordable, and easier to access. CONCLUSIONS: Obtaining misoprostol outside the formal healthcare system offered a more accessible and appealing prospect for some women given fears of legal repercussion and stigma toward abortion. Though this preference will likely continue despite the more liberal abortion law, strategies should be implemented to broaden knowledge of the recent change in law and to combat misinformation and stigma. This would support knowledge of and access to legal abortion for those who wish to avail themselves of these services.

Some phytotoxins causing reproductive alterations in ruminants.

The presence of phytotoxins in plants constitutes a health risk for herbivores, particularly on ruminants who accidently consume them. Among the adverse effects produced by these are reproductive alterations, represented by abortion, infertility, and morphological alterations in neonates, which are frequently attributed to other causes. While in some cases the plants that contain such metabolites are known, other times they are not, leading to alterations that are difficult to treat considering that their toxicodynamics are unknown. The objective of this documentary research is to provide information on how metabolites such as phytoestrogens, L-mimosine, labdane diterpenoids - isocupressic acid, quinolizidine alkaloids and piperidine swainsonine, anabasine, coniine and associated alkaloids, among others, exert their action in the animal organism and the effects they produce.

Real-world utilization pattern of dydrogesterone in 7287 Indian women with obstetric and gynecological conditions: data from multicentric, retrospective study.

Objective: Despite the literature on dydrogesterone, studies on dydrogesterone utilization patterns are largely lacking in Indian patients. Methods: This was a multi-center, retrospective, observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study across 817 centers in India. Data of patients who received dydrogesterone in past and provided consent for future use of their medical record for research purpose was were retrieved and analyzed. Results: Data of 7287 subjects (aged 29.55±4.84 years) was analyzed. Threatened abortion was the most common indication for which the subjects received dydrogesterone (46.9%) followed by recurrent pregnancy loss. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disorders and anemia were the most common comorbid conditions and prior pregnancy loss, advanced maternal age and obesity were the most common risk factors seen in subjects who received dydrogesterone. Total 27.5% of subjects received a loading dose of dydrogesterone, and majority (64%) received 40 mg as loading dose. 10 mg dose was used as maintenance or regular dose in 81.4% of the subjects. Twice daily (BID) was the most common dosing frequency (66.6%). The most common concomitant medications being taken by the subjects on dydrogesterone included folic acid (45.1%), iron supplements (30.3%) and calcium and vitamin D3 supplements (25.5%). Another progesterone preparation (oral, injection, vaginal, tubal) other than dydrogesterone was used concurrently in 7.8% of subjects. Conclusion: The study helped to identify the patient population that is benefitted by dydrogesterone and the preferred indications, risk factors, comorbid conditions and concomitant medication used in this patient population at real-life scenario.

"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.

Sheep abortions associated with Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii infections in multiple flocks from Southern Brazil.

Neosporosis and toxoplasmosis are important parasitic causes of abortions in small ruminants. This study verified the occurrence of these diseases in sheep fetuses from Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil from 2015 to 2022. Sheep fetuses were necropsied with organ sampling for histopathology, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii using the Nc5 and SAG2 targets, respectively, in frozen brain tissue. Microbiological culture and RT-PCR for Pestivirus were conducted to discard other abortion causes. One positive fetus for toxoplasmosis was genotyped using multiplex multilocus nested PCR-RFLP (Mn-PCR-RFLP) with ten genetic markers. Fifty-five sheep fetuses were evaluated, with 10 (18.2%) cases of neosporosis and 7 (12.7%) cases of toxoplasmosis, comprising six and four flocks, respectively. Macroscopically, neosporosis abortions exhibited fetal mummification, maceration, and arthrogryposis. Toxoplasmosis abortions showed fetal mummification and maceration. The neosporosis abortions included lymphoplasmacytic myositis (70%; 7/10) and myocarditis (60%; 6/10), in addition to necrotizing encephalitis and gliosis (50%; 5/10). Toxoplasmosis abortions included lymphoplasmacytic necrotizing encephalitis (71.4%; 5/7), lymphoplasmacytic myositis (42.8%, 3/7), and myocarditis (14.3%; 1/7). Through PCR, N. caninum and T. gondii were detected in 6 (60%) and 5 (71.4%) fetuses, respectively. In one fetus, T. gondii genotyping was conducted, which was characterized as atypical genotype ToxoDB #98. All of the cases were negative for Pestivirus and bacterial agents. This study establishes the occurrence of these diseases as causes of abortions, malformations, mummification, and fetal maceration in sheep, with the characterization of an atypical T. gondii genotype in one of the fetuses.