An exploration of the reasons women give for choosing legal termination of pregnancy at Soshanguve Community Health Centre, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Termination of pregnancy (TOP) is one of the most commonly performed gynaecological procedures in the world and was legalised in South Africa in 1996 with the passing of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996. Utilisation of the TOP service increased significantly after the promulgation of the Act, to the extent that 7% of pregnant women in South Africa chose to terminate their pregnancies legally in 2012. Worldwide, women most commonly state their reasons for choosing TOP as a desire to stop or postpone childbearing. Although several international studies have been done in this regard, the reasons for women requesting legalised TOP in South Africa have not been explored in depth. Methods: A qualitative study using the case-study approach and involving one-on-one open interviews with participants was done at the TOP Clinic at Soshanguve Clinic 3 with the aim of gaining more insight into this issue. Results: The following themes emerged from the interviews: formal education not completed, financial difficulties, contraceptive failure, wrong timing, reasons relating to the existing family; and problems relating to the partner. Conclusion:This study also gave insight into the complex personal and social contexts within which women make the decision to terminate their pregnancy, and the thoughtfulness with which they make their decisions.

Reasons women terminate their pregnancies legally and their contraceptive practices at Soshanguve 3 Community Health Centre, Tshwane district, South Africa

“…Although the current study did not fully investigate the reasons for unsatisfactory contraceptive practice, other researchers consider that women's lack of economic empowerment, that is, financial stability, makes it difficult for them to negotiate condom or contraceptive use with a reluctant male partner. 17,18 This may result in an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy, and a vicious cycle of repeat TOP, which was found to be higher in South Africa than in developed countries. 4 Some women may go to the extent of keeping their contraceptive use a secret from their male partners who are opposed to contraceptive use in order to control their fertility.…”

Patients’ experiences of termination of pregnancy at a regional hospital in Durban, South Africa

“…[2] Since the inception of the Act, up to 7% of pregnant women have sought legal ToP in SA. [3] First-trimester terminations are performed as outpatient procedures by trained midwives. Adequate counselling is given, and women are offered the choice of medical or surgical ToP.…”

“…[2] International data suggest that women decide to have ToP because of a desire to stop or postpone childbearing. [3] Local data indicate that women in the SA setting often have numerous reasons for ToP, such as financial difficulties, formal education not completed, contraceptive failure, wrong timing, and reasons relating to the family or partner. [3] A study in Hammanskraal found that women presenting for ToP were likely to be young, unemployed, poorly educated, in a conflictual relationship with their partner, and dependent on their parents.…”

“…[3] Local data indicate that women in the SA setting often have numerous reasons for ToP, such as financial difficulties, formal education not completed, contraceptive failure, wrong timing, and reasons relating to the family or partner. [3] A study in Hammanskraal found that women presenting for ToP were likely to be young, unemployed, poorly educated, in a conflictual relationship with their partner, and dependent on their parents. [4] The reasons for ToP were relationship or financial problems, need for completion of studies, or not being ready to become a parent.…”

Examining religio-cultural beliefs among women towards induced abortions in Noodsberg and Esidumbini communities of faith: a case study.

“…Scholars who include Bloomer, Pierson, and Claudio (2020) concur with each other that unplanned pregnancy can be a cause of emotional stress, and feelings of guilt, grief, anguish, emptiness, shame, doubt, and anxiety, both before and after abortion. Steyn and Ndimande (2018) argue that poor knowledge of contraception, poor contraceptive practices and contraceptive failure are mentioned as a cause for unplanned pregnancy, and they have a direct impact on abortion.…”