MRI Mejia

Speeches:

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    Is there possible sexism in termination of
    pergnancy decision-making?
    Mejı´a, MRI
    Centro de Atencio´n Integral a la Pareja, A. C, Mexico
    In April 2007 voluntary termination of pregnancy (TOP) up to
    week 12 of gestation was legalised in Mexico City. Since its
    decriminalisation we have observed at least four hegemonic
    attitudes in male sexual partners with respect to reproductive and
    contraceptive decision-making in the medical services of Centro
    de Atencio´n Integral a la Pareja, A. C: (i) those who go with their
    partner and support the decision; (ii) the ones who decide and
    pressure their partner, (iii) those who do not support the decision
    and do not go with their partner in order to prevent her from
    having an abortion and (iv) those who do not support the
    decision but who go with their partner.
    There is insufficient research on the subject of males’ role in
    reproductive decision-making and its implications on males’
    subjectivities and in their partners’ bonding. This study responds
    to the following questions: In what circumstances do men support
    or deny women’s decision-making? What is the perception of
    women regarding their partners’ participation in the process?
    Within the context of legalisation and in light of new ways of
    sexual and loving bonding practices, is it important to integrate
    males and create friendly services that allow people to express
    their needs and emotions without abuse. Is it fundamental, as
    well, to review their contributions to the process of women’s
    citizenship within this context? This study acknowledges the
    fundamental role of men in the processes undergone by women,
    despite the lack of services to integrate and strengthen the
    democratic advance in equity contexts.

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    Taking care of teenage termination of pregnancy
    during the second trimester of pregnancy with
    solidarity
    Zavala, AMC; Mejı´a, MRI; Zavala, AMC
    Centro de Atencio´n Integral a la Pareja, A. C, Mexico
    If we think that termination of pregnancy (TOP) within the
    second trimester is only an issue of public policy or legality, we
    would minimise a more complex problem of a sexual modern age.
    If we consider that TOP within the second trimester of pregnancy

    presents a higher morbi-mortality risk than the first trimester of
    pregnancy, we could think that it is urgent to create alternative
    spaces to facilitate access to services for a teenage population. It is
    also urgent to train well prepared professionals to prioritise this
    topic within the present conditions of poor countries or emerging
    citizenships with sensibility. However, the tendency of legal
    openness–modern and conservative–has set important limits in
    order to reduce this phenomenon. Most research focuses on
    service providers and moral codes that rule contemporary science
    instead of focusing on the women who take advantage of those
    services. In this paper we will present the results of a qualitative
    and quantitative analysis of 100 teenagers who had a TOP in both
    clinics of the Centro de Atencio´n Integral a la Pareja, A. C. during
    the second trimester within a legal context where a woman’s
    decision is only possible up to week 12. This will lead us to
    discuss and contribute the teenagers’ experiences living in contexts
    of vulnerability which include legal restrictions, stigmatisation,
    and a lack of recognition of women as people in charge of their
    lives and sexuality.