Evidence of Abortion Attitude Flexibility during COVID-19 in Pernambuco, Brazil

This study examines changes in women's attitudes toward abortion in Brazil during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the role of religious affiliation. Brazil provides a unique context for examining abortion attitudes because of its strict abortion policies, changing religious landscape, and back-to-back Zika and COVID-19 crises. We used data from a population-based sample of 2335 women ages 18-34 in Pernambuco, Brazil, collected during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (May-September 2020) and one year later (May-September 2021). Multivariable-adjusted multinomial logistic regression models were used to assess changes in support for abortion in cases of maternal Zika or COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Women were less supportive of abortion in the case of maternal COVID-19 infection (34 percent) compared to Zika infection (41 percent). About half of the women changed their abortion attitudes during the year. Pentecostal Evangelicals were more likely to decrease support, while nonreligious women or those with less conservative affiliations were more likely to increase support. Greater worry about Zika and COVID-19 was associated with higher support for abortion. The study highlights the dynamic nature of abortion attitudes, which should be considered when forming policies, especially during crises.