Knowledge and opinions concerning legal and ethical issues with abortion among physicians working in emergency wards in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

Este estudo tem por objetivo investigar o conhecimento e as opiniões dos médicos sobre os aspectos legais e éticos do aborto. Utilizou-se um questionário auto-administrado a 57 médicos que trabalhavam nas salas de emergência de dois hospitais de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil, em 2001. Do questionário constaram 38 perguntas sobre conhecimento geral e sobre legislação e atitudes frente ao aborto. A idade média dos entrevistados foi de 28,3; a maioria era do sexo feminino; 52,6% eram solteiros e 42%, casados; 54,4% eram católicos e 21%, espíritas. Apesar de a maioria ter bom conhecimento geral sobre o aborto (70%), um em cada cinco médicos está desinformado sobre o fato de ser o aborto responsável por muitas mortes maternas no Brasil. A maioria aceita as condições do aborto legal e o ampliaria para malformação fetal incompatível com a vida, mas é contra a descriminalização do aborto por outros motivos. O baixo conhecimento sobre as leis do aborto revela-se por conceitos errôneos na aplicação prática do aborto legal. Os resultados sugerem fortemente que muitos não sabem aplicar a lei ou teriam dificuldade para tal.This study focused on the knowledge and opinions of physicians regarding legal and ethical aspects of abortion. A self-administered questionnaire was filled out by 57 physicians working in the emergency rooms of two hospitals in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil in 2001. The questionnaire had 38 questions on general knowledge, legislation, and attitudes towards abortion. Interviewees' mean age was 28.3, most were females, 52.6% were single, 42.1% were married, 54.4% were Catholic, and 21% were Spiritists. Although most of the physicians had a good level of overall knowledge on abortion (70%), one in five was not aware that abortion is the main cause of maternal mortality in Brazil. Most accepted the prevailing legal conditions for performing an abortion in Brazil but would also include fetal malformation incompatible with life, while opposing decriminalization of abortion on other grounds. Limited knowledge is revealed by misconceptions concerning enforcement of the prevailing legislation in practice. The study strongly suggests that many physicians lack knowledge or face difficulties in conforming to the Brazilian legislation on abortion