Timely initiation of antenatal care in adolescent victims of sexual violence: implications for legal abortion in Brazil

Abstract

We investigated the timely initiation of antenatal care among Brazilian adolescents to support the national discussion on the gestational age limit for legal abortion. Using data from the Live Births Information System (SINASC) from 2020 to 2022, we correlated timely prenatal care (in the first trimester of pregnancy) with the adolescent's age, region, race/color, and education level. Considering the estimated age at conception, we estimate that 11,607 annual births result from vulnerable rape. Timely initiation increased with age, being 70.2% for all adolescents (<20 years), but only 55.6% for those under 13; 14.1% of adolescents started antenatal care at 22 weeks or more of gestation (28.3% among those <13 years). Timely initiation was lower in the North Region, among Indigenous girls, and among those with low educational attainment. The results challenge the recent legislative proposal to limit legal abortion for victims of vulnerable rape to up to 22 weeks of gestational age. Delays in recognizing pregnancy and communicating with the family contribute to the late initiation of antenatal care and the decision to abort. The proposed deadline for legal abortions will primarily affect the most socioeconomically and racially vulnerable adolescents.