Family planning: bioethical dilemmas found in the literature

Abstract

This integrative review, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method, investigates the bioethical dilemmas that emerge from family planning, in light of principlism. Data were collected based on literature research conducted at the Medline, Lilacs and Scopus databases, using the descriptors “family planning and bioethics.” After applying the eligibility criteria, seven papers published between 2011 and 2018 were selected for content analysis, performed according to Bardin’s proposal. The study identified four thematic categories: right to freedom and sexual/reproductive autonomy; government interference in family and reproductive planning; sociocultural and religious barriers to family planning; and technological enhancement for pre-embryo handling. Results suggest that scientific advances move faster than bioethical discussions, creating practical and theoretical dilemmas.