Discussions on women’s sexual and reproductive rights after the emergence of the Zika virus in Brazil

Abstract

This study sought to understand how the Zika virus epidemic and its consequences on fetal growth influenced the way pregnant women from various socioeconomic status perceive sexual and reproductive rights in a capital city in the northeast of Brazil. The data used in this qualitative research was collected by means of eighteen semi-structured interviews: nine conducted with pregnant women attended at the public health sector and nine at the private health sector. Results show a high occurrence of unintended pregnancy among women attended at the public health sector, which may be justified by barriers in accessing health and information services. Although women adopted prevention measures related to Zika virus infection after pregnancy, their partners did not develop the same behavior – despite the risk of sexual transmission. The Direct Action of Unconstitutionality 5581 fostered the discussion on reproductive rights, presenting, on the one hand, arguments in favor of terminating pregnancy in cases of Zika virus infection by denouncing social injustices and, on the other, mobilizing questions of moral and religious nature, thus dividing opinions on this matter among women.