The values attributed by physicians and nurses to abortion in Brazil

Rev Bras Enferm. 2025 Mar 31;78(2):e20240196. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2024-0196. eCollection 2025.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objectives: to understand the values attributed by nurses and physicians working in obstetric care for abortion.

Methods: this is a phenomenological study based on Max Scheler's theory of values, with 19 semi-structured online interviews with healthcare professionals working in legal abortion, using the snowball sampling recruitment technique. The collected data were transcribed in full and submitted to content analysis.

Results: it was evident from healthcare professionals' statements that abortion has a vital, moral and ethical professional value. Furthermore, the lack of value given to abortion by physicians and nurses was demonstrated as well as the vital value attributed to women's lives by public health.

Final considerations: in order to understand the values attributed by nurses and physicians, there was the need to advance the values of health, rights, dignity and respect for women in the face of abortion.

Objetivos:: comprender los valores atribuidos por enfermeras y médicos que actúan en la atención del aborto obstétrico.

Métodos:: se trata de un estudio fenomenológico basado en la teoría de valores de Max Scheler, con 19 entrevistas semiestructuradas en línea a profesionales de la salud que trabajan en el aborto legal, utilizando la técnica de reclutamiento por muestreo de bola de nieve. Los datos recopilados fueron transcritos en su totalidad y sometidos a análisis de contenido.

Resultados:: se evidenció, a partir de las declaraciones de los profesionales de la salud, que el aborto tiene un valor ético vital, moral y profesional. Además, quedó demostrada la infravaloración del aborto por parte de médicos y enfermeras, así como el valor vital que la salud pública atribuye a la vida de las mujeres.

Consideraciones Finales:: para comprender los valores atribuidos por enfermeras y médicos, se mostró la necesidad de avanzar en los valores de salud, derechos, dignidad y respeto a las mujeres frente al aborto.

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced* / methods
  • Abortion, Induced* / psychology
  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Brazil
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurses* / psychology
  • Nurses* / standards
  • Physicians* / psychology
  • Physicians* / standards
  • Pregnancy
  • Qualitative Research

Grants and funding

This work was carried out with the support of the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, Process 88881.729691/2022-01, and the Emergency Program for the Development of Graduate Studies for the Strategic Consolidation of Academic Stricto Sensu Graduate Programs (13407).