In Italy, the “traditional” form of family revaluated by fascist dogma is one of the pillars of the society. Women have a central role to maintain, protect and support this form of family. Many Italian women, the State, the media and the Church, all act to safeguard this reality, seeking to remove all obstacles that can challenge the family. Abortion is considered as one of these obstacles and it has been a much debated topic in Italy over the years. Abortion was made legal in Italy in 1978 with a widely discussed law. The Italian Abortion Act, despite being the object of debates, critics and two referenda supported by all Parliamentary factions, has never been modified. In 2002, with the introduction of RU 486 at the Sant’Anna of Turin all debates about abortion started up again accompanied by a strong opposition to the implementation of the drug. The purpose of this study is to better understand the social definition of the female condition in Italy analysing the obstacles to the implementation of chemical abortion in Italy. In order to evaluate the role of both the Italian Government and society in obstructing the introduction of RU 486 in Italy, historical and secondary sociological data were collected and a series of interviews and a participant observation in a selection of Italian hospitals were conducted. A comparative study between Italy and the UK was also conducted. The results of this study seem to prove how the majority of Italian women, in opposition to feminist theory, prioritize family, femininity and maternity, considering career as necessary mainly from an economic point of view. Abortion is now considered by the young generation as something avoidable and no longer associated with women’s right to choose or as an expression of “self-determination”. This strong “traditionalistic” attitude seems to be caused by the inability of the Italian State to implement its laws and by the direct and indirect influence of the Catholic Church.

The aim of this study was to describe the nurses‘ perception of termination of pregnancy and her perception of her conduct towards clients that request termination of pregnancy guided by Kings‘ Systems Approach and Goal Attainment Theory. A non-experimental quantitative descriptive correlational design was used. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used consisting of institutions in the Western Cape, available to participate in this study, which deliver termination of pregnancy services, gov ernment health care institutions (21) and Marie Stopes clinics (3). Non-probability convenience sampling was used consisting of registered nurses who are working in termination of pregnancy units in these facilities (N=82). Data were collected through the administration of a self-designed questionnaire. The main findings of the study indicate that respondents (personal system) appear to feel positive about the work they are doing. Formal improvement and development are however not utilised optimally. Regarding the interpersonal system, respondents also show a positive orientation to both the woman opting for termination of pregnancy and the foetus. The potential towards transaction and ultimately goal attainment reside within this system. The respondents are also positive about legislation, employers and policies (social system) relating to termination of pregnancy. This orientation creates a milieu that is conducive to transactions, interactions and goal attainment.The main recommendation is that three systems as proposed by King be continuously integrated within the termination of pregnancy setup through, amongst other measures: values clarification, management support, in service education, the inclusion of termination of pregnancy in undergraduate programmes, focus groups and the like. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verpleegkundige se persepsie van terminasie van swangerskap en haar persepsie van haar houding en gedrag teenoor kliёnte wat terminasie van swangerskap versoek, aan die hand van King se Sisteembenadering en Doelwitbereikingsteorie te ondersoek en te beskryf. `n Nie-eksperimentele kwantitatiewe beskrywende korrelasie navorsingsontwerp was gebruik. `n Nie-waarskynlike doelbewuste-steekproefneming van die staatsgesondheidsorg-instansies wat terminasie van swangerskapdienste aanbied, is geneem en wat beskikbaar vir hierdie studie was (21) asook die Marie Stopesdienste (3), in die Wes-Kaap. `n Nie-waarskynlike gerieflikheidsteekproefneming is van verpleegkundiges geneem wat swangerskappe in hierdie afdelings termineer of moet termineer (N=82). Data is met behulp van `n selfontwerpte vraelys ingesamel. Die hoofbevindings van die studie dui daarop dat respondente (persoonlike sisteem) positief voel oor hul werk. Formele ontwikkelingshulpbronne word egter nie optimaal deur die sisteem benut nie. Wat die interpersoonlike sisteem betref, toon respondente ook ‗n positiewe oriëntasie tot beide die vrou wat terminasie van swangerskap aanvra en die fetus. Die potensiaal tot transaksie-sluiting en uiteindelike doelwitbereiking is binne hierdie sisteem geleë. Die respondente is ook positief oor wetgewing en die werkgewer en beleid (sosiale siteem) ten opsigte van terminasie van swangerskap. Hierdie oriëntering laat ‗n milieu wat bevorderlik is vir transaksie-sluiting, interaksie en doelwitbereiking. Die hoofaanbeveling is dat voortdurend gepoog moet word na die integrasie van King se drie sisteme binne die terminasie van swangerskapafdelings deur onder meer: waarde-uitklaringswerkswinkels, ondersteuning van bestuur, indiensopleiding, die insluiting van terminasie van swangerskap in voorgraadse kurrikula, fokusgroepe en so meer. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Gesondheidstudies)

The aim of this study was to describe the nurses‘ perception of termination of pregnancy and her perception of her conduct towards clients that request termination of pregnancy guided by Kings‘ Systems Approach and Goal Attainment Theory. A non-experimental quantitative descriptive correlational design was used. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used consisting of institutions in the Western Cape, available to participate in this study, which deliver termination of pregnancy services, gov ernment health care institutions (21) and Marie Stopes clinics (3). Non-probability convenience sampling was used consisting of registered nurses who are working in termination of pregnancy units in these facilities (N=82). Data were collected through the administration of a self-designed questionnaire. The main findings of the study indicate that respondents (personal system) appear to feel positive about the work they are doing. Formal improvement and development are however not utilised optimally. Regarding the interpersonal system, respondents also show a positive orientation to both the woman opting for termination of pregnancy and the foetus. The potential towards transaction and ultimately goal attainment reside within this system. The respondents are also positive about legislation, employers and policies (social system) relating to termination of pregnancy. This orientation creates a milieu that is conducive to transactions, interactions and goal attainment.The main recommendation is that three systems as proposed by King be continuously integrated within the termination of pregnancy setup through, amongst other measures: values clarification, management support, in service education, the inclusion of termination of pregnancy in undergraduate programmes, focus groups and the like. / Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verpleegkundige se persepsie van terminasie van swangerskap en haar persepsie van haar houding en gedrag teenoor kliёnte wat terminasie van swangerskap versoek, aan die hand van King se Sisteembenadering en Doelwitbereikingsteorie te ondersoek en te beskryf. `n Nie-eksperimentele kwantitatiewe beskrywende korrelasie navorsingsontwerp was gebruik. `n Nie-waarskynlike doelbewuste-steekproefneming van die staatsgesondheidsorg-instansies wat terminasie van swangerskapdienste aanbied, is geneem en wat beskikbaar vir hierdie studie was (21) asook die Marie Stopesdienste (3), in die Wes-Kaap. `n Nie-waarskynlike gerieflikheidsteekproefneming is van verpleegkundiges geneem wat swangerskappe in hierdie afdelings termineer of moet termineer (N=82). Data is met behulp van `n selfontwerpte vraelys ingesamel. Die hoofbevindings van die studie dui daarop dat respondente (persoonlike sisteem) positief voel oor hul werk. Formele ontwikkelingshulpbronne word egter nie optimaal deur die sisteem benut nie. Wat die interpersoonlike sisteem betref, toon respondente ook ‗n positiewe oriëntasie tot beide die vrou wat terminasie van swangerskap aanvra en die fetus. Die potensiaal tot transaksie-sluiting en uiteindelike doelwitbereiking is binne hierdie sisteem geleë. Die respondente is ook positief oor wetgewing en die werkgewer en beleid (sosiale siteem) ten opsigte van terminasie van swangerskap. Hierdie oriëntering laat ‗n milieu wat bevorderlik is vir transaksie-sluiting, interaksie en doelwitbereiking. Die hoofaanbeveling is dat voortdurend gepoog moet word na die integrasie van King se drie sisteme binne die terminasie van swangerskapafdelings deur onder meer: waarde-uitklaringswerkswinkels, ondersteuning van bestuur, indiensopleiding, die insluiting van terminasie van swangerskap in voorgraadse kurrikula, fokusgroepe en so meer. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Gesondheidstudies)