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M.Cur. / South African women, including black adolescents, had wishes, hopes and expectations that the liberation of the abortion law would bring them a new lease on life. The promulgation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 92 of 1996, was viewed by most women, including black adolescents, as a means by which their wishes and expectations were going to be realised for the first time. Women were happy that they were going to terminate a pregnancy inside the country and under the supervision of a person whose identity will not be concealed from them. These women, including black adolescents, expected the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act 92 of 1996, was going to afford them an opportunity to express and share their feelings, without pretending to be emotionally strong. Since it is difficult to identify with certainty which women, who terminate their pregnancy, are being emotionally strong, the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act 92 of 1996 has made provision for counselling be afforded to all women. The counselling provided to women, including black adolescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy, was observed by the researcher to be more of a cognitive nature. It is focusing on orientating women towards what is to be expected from them during the procedure of termination of pregnancy. The researcher observed that the counselling is not focusing on the emotional aspect of these women. The researcher developed an interest to listen to the voices of the black adolescents, as part of the community of women who chose to terminate a pregnancy, to form a better understanding of their experiences so as to be able to mobilise resources in order to support them. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research study was conducted to identify the experiences of black adolescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy. Permission was obtained from gatekeepers. A pilot phenomenological interview was conducted with a black adolescent who chose to terminate a pregnancy and who met the selection criteria. The phenomenological interviews were conducted in English and Tswana with nine black adolescents that volunteered to participate in the study. Steps were taken to ensure trustworthiness. Tesch's Method of data-analysis was followed to analyse the data. The results indicated that black adotescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy, experienced emotional turmoil; physical distress; and used psychological defence mechanisms as a way to cope and some indicated that they experienced emotional maturity from the experience of terminating a pregnancy. From the findings of the research study in Phase 1 (one ) guidelines are described in phase two (2) for the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner to support black adolescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy. The possibility of applying the results of the research in nursing education, nursing research and nursing praFtice have been described. The black adolescents who choose to terminate their pregnancies need support from the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner as well as from nurses engaged in the termination of pregnancies in different health facilities, in order to promote their mental health.

M.Cur. (Psychiatric Nursing) / Termination of pregnancy is now legal in South Africa, bringing with it issues that have never before had to be addressed. Nobody denies that termination of pregnancy has an effect on women, but very few people realise that termination of pregnancy also has an impact on men. The study tells the story of a few adult biological fathers who accompanied their partners to the various identified clinics in Gauteng for a termination of pregnancy. The goal of this study was to: Explore and describe how single adult biological fathers experienced the termination of pregnancy his partner had. Describe guidelines for the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner to support adult biological fathers to mobilise their resources and promote their mental health as an integral part of health. The paradigmatic perspective of this study was guided by the Theory for Health Promotion in Nursing (Rand Afrikaans University, Department of Nursing Science, 1999:2-15), which reflects the focus on the whole person. A functional approach was followed (Botes, 1991 :2) based on the model for nursing research developed by Botes (1995:6). The design of the study utilised is a qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual design (Mouton & Marais, 1994:43-44,51) using in-depth, semi-structured, phenomenological interviews as a method of data collection. Field notes were also taken after the completion of each interview, while prior to this permission was obtained from the various identified private clinics in Gauteng where this study was conducted, as well as from the adult biological fathers who voluntarily participated in this study. The results of this study were tabulated according to categories and themes. The first theme identified the powerlessness the adult biological fathers experienced related to the inability to have a choice in the process of the termination of pregnancy. The second theme told of the emotional turmoil experienced by the adult biological fathers related to the impact of the decision on interpersonal and intra-personal relationships. The third theme identified the psychological defence mechanisms the adult biological fathers used as a way of dealing with the stressful effects of the termination of pregnancy.