[Qualitative analysis of voluntary abortion in the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires]

The Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy (IVE) law 27.610, enacted in 2020, urges healthcare providers to guarantee this practice. Previous investigations at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires (HIBA) revealed that the lack of clear institutional protocols hindered the management of abortion. The objective of this research was to explore the management of abortion before and after the enactment of law 27.610, the institutional modifications implemented in response to it, and the opportunities for improvement in care from the perspective of the healthcare staff.

Qualitative study using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Professionals from the IVE office at HIBA were selected through purposive and snowball sampling between March 2022 and May 2023. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted, manually analyzed using in vivo and descriptive coding, resulting in the emergence of 3 thematic areas.

1) Professionals experienced four stages in management of abortion, with increasing institutional support: referral to informal networks, risk reduction, legal abortion, and the IVE office. 2) A multidisciplinary team implemented changes starting in 2021 that expanded access to IVE. 3) Improving communication between services is necessary to standardize access to different abortion methods and emergency care.

The evolution of abortion management at the HIBA reflects adaptations to national legislative frameworks and underscores the importance of clear institutional protocols and hierarchical support. Access to IVE is ensured through an integrated network of providers that continually seek improvements.