El aborto legal en Colombia: opiniones de un grupo de estudiantes de Enfermería

Abstract

Introduction: In 2006, the Colombian government legalized abortion for three specific situations by means of sentence C-355, setting an important milestone in a society soaked by strong patriarchal values. Nevertheless, studies regarding these experiences of the main actors, as well as Healthcare professionals and women involved in this social phenomenon have been scarce. Objective: To ask senior students of the nursing program at Universidad Surcolombiana their opinion regarding sentence C-355 of 2006, which legalized abortion for three specific situations in Colombia. Methodology: A qualitative exploratory study was conducted. 26 students participated and they were selected using convenience sampling until saturation of the information. To collect the data, three discussion groups were created, and three in-depth interviews were conducted. Both were observed using content analysis. Results: Opinions regarding the sentence are favorable, because of its social benefits and it is in Pro of Defending women's rights. The topic arising in the constructed discourses was the impediment to accept abortion in Colombia, as a result of those strong patriarchal values that have soaked society, which are reinforced by the church’s "discourses of the truth” as well as those of medical institutions. Conclusions: it is necessary to persist on the socialization of the sentence in institutions and among healthcare professionals, and to persist on legal abortion and women's rights as a topic for public and political discussion. To do so, academia and investigators must work together with social organizations defending women's rights.

Keywords

• legal abortion
• nursing students
• patriarchy
• women’s rights
• Constitutional Court Sentence C-355
• Colombia