A utilização de misoprostol por mulheres para o aborto induzido no contexto de ilegalidade no Brasil: uma revisão narrativa da literatura

Abstract

Abortion is among the five leading causes of maternal mortality. It is estimated that one in five women by the age of 40 has already made at least one abortion. This study aims to analyze the use of misoprostol in clandestine abortions in Brazil illegal context and discuss this issue as a public health problem through a narrative review of the literature during the period from 2006 to 2016, with a search in PubMed, LILACS and Scielo bases, besides documents related to the subject, such as the World Health Organization and Brazilian Ministry of Health guidelines. Studies have shown that misoprostol has been the most widely used method of abortion in the last two decades and the increasing use of this medication for abortion induction has contributed to reduce the number of complications. Restricting laws does not reduce abortion, however, makes it to be held in poor and inadequate conditions, which puts women's lives at risk, especially poor and black women, the ones with greater social vulnerability. It is hoped that this study will instigate discussions on reproductive and sexual rights, gender relations, decriminalization and legalization of abortion, reflecting the development of effective public policies aimed at reducing female deaths, especially among women in more vulnerable social conditions.