# The values attributed by physicians and nurses to abortion in Brazil

## TL;DR

This study explores how Brazilian healthcare professionals value abortion, highlighting moral, ethical, and vital perspectives.

## Contribution

It applies Max Scheler’s value theory to analyze abortion-related values among physicians and nurses in Brazil.

## Key findings

- Abortion was seen as having vital, moral, and ethical professional value by healthcare professionals.
- Professionals also demonstrated a lack of value given to abortion in some contexts.
- Public health emphasized the vital value of women’s lives over abortion.

## Abstract

to understand the values attributed by nurses and physicians working in obstetric care for abortion.

this is a phenomenological study based on Max Scheler’s theory of values, with 19 semi-structured online interviews with healthcare professionals working in legal abortion, using the snowball sampling recruitment technique. The collected data were transcribed in full and submitted to content analysis.

it was evident from healthcare professionals’ statements that abortion has a vital, moral and ethical professional value. Furthermore, the lack of value given to abortion by physicians and nurses was demonstrated as well as the vital value attributed to women’s lives by public health.

in order to understand the values attributed by nurses and physicians, there was the need to advance the values of health, rights, dignity and respect for women in the face of abortion.

compreender os valores atribuídos pelos enfermeiros e médicos atuantes na assistência obstétrica ao abortamento.

trata-se de estudo fenomenológico fundamentado no referencial da teoria dos valores de Max Scheler, com 19 entrevistas semiestruturadas online com profissionais de saúde atuantes no abortamento legal, por meio da técnica de recrutamento snowball sampling. Os dados coletados foram transcritos na íntegra e submetidos à análise de conteúdo.

evidenciou-se, pelos depoimentos dos profissionais de saúde, que o abortamento possui um valor vital, moral e ético profissional. Além disso, mostrou-se o desvalor do abortamento por parte de médicos e enfermeiros, e ainda o valor vital para a vida das mulheres atribuído pela saúde pública.

com a finalidade da compreensão dos valores atribuídos por enfermeiros e médicos, mostrou-se a necessidade do avanço para os valores à saúde, ao direito, à dignidade e ao respeito das mulheres diante do abortamento.