Brazil's abortion laws do not include microcephaly as a legal reason to have an abortion. Pregnant women whose unborn babies suffer from Zika complications are not allowed to undergo an abortion, leaving many women seeking the help of illegal abortion clinics.
Illegal Abortions
New York Times reported that there were many cases of women who seek illegal abortions due to fears of their babies suffering from microcephaly and a host of other complications brought by the Zika virus. Pregnant women do not only contend with microcephaly, they also have to deal with abnormal amounts of amniotic fluid, which is a life-threatening condition for both the mother and baby.
One woman, Marina Leite, 35, underwent an abortion when she found out that she had excessive amniotic fluid. Brazilian laws generally prohibit abortion, but if the life of the mother is in peril, abortion becomes legal. Those who engage in illegal abortions can end up in jail for three years.
Some Abortions Legal
Other grounds by which abortion is made legal in Brazil include a raped woman, and if the fetus suffers from ancephaly, a condition where the brain cannot be found. Doctors can legally do the abortion when any of these cases are brought to them.
Before Zika though, Brazil already had recorded cases of about 900,000 illegal abortions. In 2015, women who had botched abortions, who subsequently sought medical care outnumbered those who sought legal abortions; the ration being 100:1.
An alarming data by the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organization showed that the number of abortions in countries where it is illegal is almost the same as with countries where abortion is legal.
Unsafe Abotion Practices
One can expect that those with money have better access to abortion clinics even if it's illegal. Those who have less often have to contend with unsafe abortion procedures.
Washington Journal reported that some parents who can afford to transfer residence did so. One Brazilian radiologist, Juliana Salviano find it proper for her and her family to move to Miami to steer clear of the results of Zika.
Pregnant women should take precaution if they want to travel to Brazil. Prevention is always better than the cure.
