Brazil is one of the Latin American countries with the most restrictive abortion access. Although many countries in the region are pushing to make safe abortions available, Brazilian women are encountering continued efforts attempting to restrict abortions.
This article will review the accessibility of abortions in Brazil and the latest updates on abortion access. Currently, abortions are not legal in Brazil. The Brazilian Penal Code, still dating from , defines abortion as a crime, and it can be punished with imprisonment, although there are three exceptions:. Abortion provided by law can be performed by intrauterine aspiration or with pills. Mifepristone, one of the pills used for a medical abortion, is not available in the country.
Misoprostol is heavily restricted and only available through the legal abortion services. The criminalization of abortion has a compounding impact on those who are already marginalized.
One in seven women up to the age of 40 has had at least one abortion in Brazil. The proportion of abortions is higher among black, brown, and indigenous women. From to , the average number of abortion procedures performed per year in public hospitals in Brazil was 1, Abortion seekers are actively searching for comprehensive abortion care in the country; however, they face many barriers such as legal restrictions, cultural norms, and societal pressures, and very few clinics provide these abortion services.
Many activists and abortion advocates in Brazil have joined the Green Wave movement that is taking place across Latin America.
