“Treading Pathways of Anguish”: Abortion Itineraries in a Brazilian Northeastern Capital

Authors

  • Rozeli Maria Porto UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE
  • Cassia Helena Dantas Sousa UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/%25x

Abstract

This paper debates the relations established among women that use public health services and mediating agents in the city of Natal for obtaining and taking abortive medicines (Misoprostol/ Cytotec®). The analysis lies on abortion itineraries treaded by women in an attempt to obtain the medication necessary for carrying out clandestine abortion, as well as the sorts of relations they establish with other agents involved in that network, by considering factors like risk, illegality and little material resources. The results present the following points: 1. Search for specific agents, with itineraries being conditioned by the acquaintance with people who can reach the desired product; 2. Final procedures combined with posterior attendance in public hospitals to cleanse the uterus; 3. Men’s participation in the abortion process; 4. Paradoxes of perception about the practice of abortion, with a clear perception of a generational group among health professionals; 5. Ultrasound and social network sites as integrated parts of abortion itineraries.

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Author Biographies

Rozeli Maria Porto, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Rozeli Porto é Doutora em Antropologia Social pela UFSC. Possui Graduação em Ciências Sociais e Mestrado em Antropologia Social pela mesma universidade. Professora do Departamento de Antropologia (DAN) e do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Antropologia Social (PPGAS) da UFRN. Faz parte do Grupo Gênero, Corpo e Sexualidades (GCS), do Núcleo de Identidades de Gênero e Subjetividades (NIGS) e do Grupo de Estudos sobre Aborto (GEA). Realiza pesquisas sobre Antropologia do Corpo e da Saúde, Relações de Gênero, Violências, Saúde e Direitos Reprodutivos, Religiões/Religiosidades e Sexualidades.

Cassia Helena Dantas Sousa, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Cassia Helena Dantas Sousa é Mestranda em Antropologia Social pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - PPGAS/UFRN. Possui Graduação em Ciências Sociais pela mesma instituição. Tem interesse na área de Antropologia do Corpo e da Saúde, Estudos de Gênero, Direitos reprodutivos e contracepção. Estudante membro do Grupo de Pesquisa Gênero, Corpo e Sexualidade - DAN/UFRN.

 

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Published

2017-05-25

How to Cite

Porto, R. M., & Sousa, C. H. D. (2017). “Treading Pathways of Anguish”: Abortion Itineraries in a Brazilian Northeastern Capital. Revista Estudos Feministas, 25(2), 593–616. https://doi.org/10.1590/%x

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Articles

License

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