The Network: Saint-o-tec

The Network: Saint-o-tec

From Embedded by NPR

June 5, 2025 · 41 min · Season 24 · Episode 1

About this episode

The episode explores how Brazilian women discovered a method for safe at-home abortions in the 1980s, significantly reducing complications.

In the mid-1980s, an OBGYN in Brazil noticed that far fewer pregnant women at his hospital were dying from abortion complications. It wasn't a coincidence. Brazilian women had made a discovery that allowed them to safely have abortions at home, despite the country's abortion restrictions. That discovery eventually spread across the globe. Embedded+ supporters get first access and sponsor-free listening for every Embedded series. Sign up at plus.npr.org/embedded . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

People in this episode

Host: NPR

Topics covered

  • abortion
  • Brazil
  • women's health
  • medical discovery
  • societal impact

Keywords

  • abortion complications
  • Brazil
  • OBGYN
  • home abortions
  • women's rights

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NPR

Places: Brazil

More episodes of Embedded

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Embedded podcast page.