Renata Bezerra de Alencar - School of Public Health of the State of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Bruno Barros Goncalves - School of Public Health of the State of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Modesto Leite Rolim Neto - Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Ceará – UFC, Barbalha,CE , Brazil

Introduction: Abortion is a theme surrounded by controverse and ethical dilemmas. It isforbidden in Brazil, but presents high incidence rates across the country. This study aims todescribe qualitative research methodologies and/or quantitative information on abortion inBrazil, and to identify strategies used by them to ensure ethical protection for women whoperform this practice in the country illegally. Methods: Were selected 23 articles and one PhDthesis about unsafe abortion from two databases, dated from 2006 to 2011, in Portuguese andEnglish, as primary data. Secondary data were obtained in the website of World HealthOrganization (WHO). Results and discussion: 83.3% of the reported studies have been approvedby ethics committees. There was a great use of informed consent, with 61.1%. A detailedexplanation of the research to participants was performed in 61.1% and 44.4% respected civilmajority. Conclusion: In recent years, ocurred great advances in secrecy and protectiontechniques and, consequently, more accurate investigations of illegal abortion. However, it isnecessary to increase the information prior to those reported by the researchers to reinforce theconfidentiality of information.

bortion,Unsafeabortion,Illegalabortion,Ethics,Research