The introduction of the Termination of Pregnancy Act, No. 92 of 1996 was welcomed by pro-choice groups but it did raise strong opposition from pro-life groups. The pro-life/pro-life dichotomy reflects the polarization of extreme views and forms the basis of the intense abortion debate with little opportunity to reconcile the views. Although abortions are common in South Africa, not many studies have explored the experiences of women, men and health professionals related to abortions. This study aimed at fulfilling this gap. Adopting a qualitative paradigm and a feminist research design, it explored the psychosocial, religious and ethical considerations which affect women’s decision-making, and men’s and health professionals’ views on abortion. Analysis of the data was carried out by means of critical discourse analysis and presented according to several themes. The data challenges the conventional pro-life/pro-choice dichotomy. Despite deciding on the abortion, the language used by the women reflected decidedly pro-life views. None of them expressed the view that abortion was right. Their narratives reflected various structural conditions that pushed them into making the abortion decision. Despite living in a predominantly pronatalistic world, society generally prescribes the ideal conditions under which pregnancy and childbirth should occur. Thus pregnancy outside of the institution of marriage is frowned upon. Circumstances resulting from dominant pronatalistic and patriarchal discourses and practices that have made women unequal partners in society, force women to opt for decisions such as abortion. While the focus is on the fulfilment of women’s rights, from an individual liberal perspective, there is a general failure to appraise the structural conditions that fail women, thereby rendering women’s choices to be constrained by their social and financial circumstances. Based on the results of the study proposals are made with regard to future research on abortion, and policy and practice. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2013.

M.A. / The focus of this dissertation is based on the Biblical and Pauline perspectives of life and death. If the Christian is to believe abortion is wrong, he should do so for sound Biblical reasons. Scripture places a deep personal concern toward human beings. The Judeo-Christian tradition has always held that all men and women are created in God's image and that every life is to be considered of value. The Bible does not place less value on people who are of a lower standard or age because it does not question their right to live and this is the main reason the church can never become anything else but pro-life. Of importance is also the fact that the innocent human life needs to be protected and if it is not, this would be inviting God's judgement. Man has no right to take another person's life because this would be failing to acknowledge God as Creator of life. Death is seen in Scripture as an enemy and the Bible says there is hope for deliverance in the face of death. With the coming of Christ, the power of God's reign on earth can be experienced in "new life" as described by Paul. Looking at what Scripture had to say about when does human life begin, it was discovered that Scripture places a high value on conception. It was also evidenced that conception is a gift from God and a fulfilment of His promises found in Scripture. A fundamental unity exists between body and soul and death is not an alternative even in the face of suffering. No Scripture supports abortion; on the contrary, God is viewed as overseeing all of life from the moment of conception. By examining the five major faiths in South Africa, namely Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and Christianity, it was realised that all five of these faiths take the unborn child into consideration. Only in extreme circumstances do some of these faiths allow abortion, e.g. rape, incest. It must also be said that these circumstances are in an abnormal situation and are not regarded as regular practices. It was necessary to discuss the application and effects of abortion in the final chapter in order to determine what happens in an abortion. Medical facts were presented about abortion and this was helpful in order to deal with the moral questions more intelligently. A description was given of the more common procedures used in performing abortions. It was evidenced that the medical staff participating in the performance of abortions are affected psychologically and recognise that abortions are destructive and violent. From all the specialised medical equipment available and all the modern medical advances being made daily, abortion is seen as unnecessary. Even the "hard cases" such as rape, incest and genetic defects did not permit support for abortion. Ethical considerations were also taken into account with more value being placed on innocent human lives. A number of questions were then addressed concerning the role of the law and abortion. The South African Abortion and Sterilisation Act of 1975 was discussed and it was necessary to look at two other countries with similar constitutions, namely Ireland and the United States of America, in order to see how they have ruled on abortion. Ireland has interpreted its constitution to favour the right to life of the unborn child while the Untied State of America preferred the right to privacy of the mother. A brief summary was given of the legal changes recommended by the Ad Hoc Select Committee on Abortion and Sterilisation with a number of figures being given on abortion in South Africa. A number of both surprising, and shocking facts were discovered about the New Constitution and its responses to the public. It was also necessary to refute a number of "pro-choice" arguments submitted to the Ad Hoc Select Committee on Abortion and Sterilisation as it seems the "pro-life" arguments were not even considered. A lengthy discussion was then given about the Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS). It is evident that South Africa is not yet familiar with this term although many suffer from it already. The defence mechanisms were listed as well as the symptoms of this syndrome. The final chapter ended with a number of tasks of healing of the Post- Abortion Syndrome. It was concluded that the Bible is pro-life and that it does not seem that the New Constitution, which seems to be pro-choice, did not even consider Biblical morals in its deliberations. It is acknowledged that it is the task of the church , and even the other faiths in South Africa, that will need to continue in this battle to protect the life of the unborn and the mother.

M.Ed. / New legislation on the termination of pregnancy (Number 92 of 1996) was approved by President Mandela on 12 November 1996, and came into effect on 1 February 1997. This law allows any pregnant woman above the age of 12, thus including adolescents, to decide to have her pregnancy terminated. Furthermore, the adolescents do not need parental permission to have their pregnancies terminated. The question arising from this is the following: how do the parents, and more specifically the mother, experience the termination of their adolescent daughter's pregnancy? To explore and describe the feelings of these mothers, qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research was utilized in two phases. During Phase I, in depth phenomenological interviews were conducted. During Phase II logical inference was used to generate guidelines for educational psychologists to enable them to assist and guide these mothers whose adolescent daughters had had their pregnancies terminated. The research showed that the following themes were observed recurringly: > Shock, disillusionment and internal conflict due to the decision to have the pregnancy terminated. > Sorrow due to overwhelming emotions after the termination of the pregnancy. > Helplessness due to the inability to deal with the course of events. > Mechanisms of defense in an attempt to protect themselves. The guidelines that have been set, are as follows: > Setting of goals and rational emotive therapy. > Guidelines regarding unconditional acceptance of the mother, the verbalising of emotions and the addressing of irrational thoughts. > Guidelines to empower mothers to assist both themselves and their daughters. > Guidelines to assist mothers to apply the mechanisms of defense in a positive way.

Thesis ( MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / In the practice of public administration, the law-making process always predominates and therefore, it should be stressed from the onset that law making in general is much more than a decision making. This study therefore locates the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (Act 92 of 1996) as a law articulation that need to be implemented accordingly to realise societal goals. However, with good intentions of such a law, there are challenges regarding implementation thereof within sectors of the society due to the diverse nature of South Africa in both traditions, cultural and religious beliefs. The introduction of the Act in South Africa was received with lot of pessimism and concerns by traditionalists, individuals that are culturally sensitive and religious leaders of various denominations. Such concerns has observably created a conundrum within traditional communities within the selected villages found in the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality in that termination of pregnancy is regarded as a taboo and immoral, more so within both the traditional and religious circles. Due to those escalating challenges and perceptions, it is deemed necessary that the study of this kind be conducted to inform both the practice and the academia for purpose of advancing knowledge within the field of Public Administration. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of community members of the selected villages of Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality about the Termination of Pregnancy Act (92 of 1996). This was done through the use of primary and secondary data as it aimed to present the quantitative and qualitative explanation and report on the perceptions of the community members of the Act 92 of 1996 in South African municipalities. However, this was chosen because the methods assist in verifying the validity of the data and tend to emphasise that there is a common reality on which people can agree on. Therefore, the findings of the study reveals that community members are aware of the implementation of Act 92 of 1996, they believe that the Act is a human right issue and it provide health and safety of women but nevertheless, they perceive the Act as contradicting their moral right, because they believe that termination of pregnancy is as same as murder. In conclusion, it is recommended that the effective public participation is needed because people are aware of termination of pregnancy but are not well informed of the Act; that the implant contraceptive injection should be a rule, be applied to high schools that every teenage girl must be injected to prevent unwanted pregnancies; girls bellow the age of 18 years should consult their legal guardians before requesting TOP; conditions of parents to those of minors should be different and only pregnancy that resulted from rape must be allowed for termination or however, the Act should just be abolished.

Study project (BCur)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Problem statement: The abortion regulation was implemented in 1997 before the necessary infrastructure was in place. The shortage of educated healthcare providers in abortion facilities led to uninformed women. Aims for this research was exploratory-describing of nature and was aimed on pre-abortion counselling to women with unwanted pregnancies in the state facilities in the Western Cape metropole to be evaluated from a nursing perspective. Methodology: Two samplings was done namely a 50% randomized, proportional stratified sampling from the State Health facilities in the Western Cape Metropole which offer abortion care service, as well as the non-randomized convenient sampling of pregnant women that received pre-abortion counselling. Data was gathered with the help of self compiled questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyse with the help of Statistika 7 and qualitative data according to Tesch’s approach. Results: Of the respondents 79% was between the age 16 and 30 and 72% was single. Although the Department of Health strives that abortion care services should be offered by a level 1 health facility, only 43% have been counselled through a registered nurse. While 49% consider preabortion counselling as important, 39% of the respondents received no, or information in groups regarding the termination of the pregnancy, 77% received information with regarding to the procedure and 50% was informed when they could go forth with normal activities. Approximately 54% received no information regarding post-abortion complications and 59% did not received a follow-up date. Approximately 68% of the respondents received information regarding family planning. Conclusion: It seems that pre-abortion counselling is not done according to guidelines and there is many gaps in the existing counselling methods in the different health facilities. Recommendations: Counselling should be based on the WHO and the Department of Health’s guidelines for abortion care. Nurses should be more involved in education programs. Abortion care facility’s should promote the total spectrum of abortion care and counsellors should receive special training and annually be re-evaluated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Probleemstelling: Die aborsiewetgewing is in 1997 geïmplementeer voordat die nodige infrastruktuur in plek was. Die tekort aan doeltreffend-opgeleide gesondheidswerkers in aborsiesorgdienste het tot gevolg gehad dat vroue oningelig is met betrekking tot aborsiesorgdienste. Doelwitte vir hierdie navorsing was ondersoekend-beskrywend van aard en daarop gerig om preaborsie berading aan vroue met ongewenste swangerskappe in staatsaangewysde fasiliteite in die Wes-Kaapse metropool te evalueer vanuit ‘n verpleegkundige perspektief. Metodologie: Twee steekproefnemings is gedoen, naamlik ‘n 50% ewekansige, proporsionele, gestratifiseerde steekproefneming van die staatsgesondheidsfasiliteite in die Wes-Kaapse metropool wat aborsiesorgdienste aanbied, sowel as ‘n nie-waarskynlike, gerieflikheidssteekproefneming van swanger vroue wat pre-aborsie berading ontvang. Data is met behulp van selfopgestelde vraelyste ingesamel. Kwantitatiewe data is ontleed met behulp van Statistica 7 en die kwalitatiewe data deur middel van Tesch se benadering. Resultate: Van die respondente was 79% tussen die ouderdom van 16 en 30 jaar en 72% was enkellopend. Alhoewel die Departement van Gesondheid strewe dat aborsiesorgdienste by ‘n vlak 1 gesondheidsfasiliteite aangebied word, het slegs 43% hul berading hier deur geregistreerde verpleegkundiges ontvang. Terwyl 94% pre-aborsie berading beskou as belangrik, het 39% óf geen, óf inligting in groepe ontvang betreffende die beëindiging van die swangerskappe, 77% het inligting ontvang met betrekking tot die prosedure en 50% was ingelig wanneer hul kon voortgaan met normale aktiwiteite. Sowat 54% het geen inligting ontvang betreffende post-aborsie komplikasies nie en 59% het nie ‘n opvolgdatum gekry nie. Sowat 68% van die respondente het wel inligting ontvang oor gesinsbeplanning. Slotsom: Dit blyk dus dat pre-aborsie berading nie volgens riglyne gedoen word nie en dat daar baie leemtes is in die bestaande beradingsmetodes in die verskillende gesondheidsfasiliteite. Aanbevelings: Berading moet gebaseer word op die WGO en die Departement van Gesondheid se riglyne vir aborsiesorg. Verpleegkundiges moet meer betrokke raak by voorligtingsprogramme. Aborsiesorgfasiliteite moet die totale spektrum van aborsiesorg kan behartig en aborsiesorgberaders moet spesiale opleiding ontvang en jaarliks her-evalueer word.

Since the introduction of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1996, research concerning abortion has primarily focused on public health issues or on the personal experience of women. The cultural and social context within which women experience a termination of pregnancy and in which services are offered has received less attention. The purpose of this study was to analyse public discourses around abortion in a low-income community in the Western Cape. Focus groups were used to gather data from three women’s and three men’s groups. The findings suggest that the agenda of pro-life discourses in this community is not always to defend the life of the fetus. Rather these discourses serve to protect, preserve and maintain the power of the traditional nuclear family, headed by the husband, over women’s reproduction and sexuality. Religious and moral arguments serve to disguise the gender issues at stake. However, instances also occurred where TOP was supported if the husband participated in the decision-making process. Therefore, his presence normalised abortion. Thus, the prevailing public discourses around abortion in this community either support or negate abortion in order to further the agenda of patriarchy.

This dissertation deals with the moral permissibility of abortion. It is argued that abortion is morally justifiable when the pregnancy is a result of rape (but only during the first trimester of pregnancy), when the pregnancy threatens the woman's life or long-term health, or when tests indicate to a high degree of scientific certainty that the foetus will be abnormal to such an extent, so as never to be capable of acquiring any human characteristics other than basic biological properties. Potential is adopted as a suitable criterion by which a being acquires a serious right to life. Rationality is examined closely, but shown to be inadequate since it leads to inconsistencies and does not accord with our general belief and sentiments. It is argued that all living beings have some right to life, but that sentient beings have more moral standing than nonsentient ones. Potential is argued to be the suitable comparison criterion when comparing beings of different species, and sentience when comparing beings of the same species. The dissertation is rights-oriented and reasons are given why this approach was adopted in favour of a virtue-oriented one. It is argued that a rights-oriented approach is more precise. / Philosophy, Practical and Systemic Theology / M.A. (Philosophy)

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Perhaps one of the most talked about subjects worldwide and in South Africa these days is the abortion issue. A growing number of women admit to having had one. Basically there are two opposing views and values on the question of abortion. We normally hear people referring to the 'abortion issue'; my understanding of this is that there is a dialogue going on at the moment concerning abortion. In South Africa before the current Choice of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) Bill, some activists' women and the ever-growing 'feminists' movements were lobbying and demanding that abortion be decriminalised. As we may all be aware, up until 1 February 1997, abortion or termination of pregnancy (TOP) in South Africa was conceivable under very restrictive atmosphere. Before the introduction of the current Termination of Pregnancy Bill, a majority of women had no access to abortion services in the country, hence the growing number of back-street job. By implication this means that most women given the choice, would not seek the experience of abortion, but if they do, it would be available to the in safe, legal, accessible and affordable service. Not only does the Act conceal that terminating pregnancy that occurred through criminal acts such as rape and incest is justifiable. The current liberal Termination of Pregnancy Bill also gives pregnant women the 'right' or 'freedom' to abort whenever and for whatever reason they deem fit. Part of the ethical dilemma of the abortion issue is that there are those who holds a view that always where there is a conflict of rights and interests, the foetus' rights must give way to, or that the foetus' rights must be overridden by those of a pregnant women. Pro-choice advocates maintain that a woman's choice to terminate her pregnancy is her own business and hers alone, in other words, this for them is a private decision. Well, I argue that this is not necessarily the case, ethically, the father of the unborn child should also be considered in such a decision. Given that virtually every abortion has risks, the parents of the aborting woman and to some extent the society at large are involved. Therefore, to solely talk of the 'mother's right to choose' is basically suggest that morality is "relative" and such relativism is conceived from the idea of privatisation of abortion and life in general. In the following pages I will look at the arguments in support of abortion and against it, and these are criticised. Also discussed are the ethical implications of the new South African Termination of Pregnancy Act. Broadly speaking, technology advancement has made it possible to detect the unborn baby's physical condition (sometimes even its mental state) while the mother is still pregnant. The ethical implications of this medical intervention are used to decide whether the unborn child should live or die. Given this, if the purpose of these prenatal diagnosis were for the destruction of the unborn, therefore, advocates of the movements such as 'the right to life', and 'pro-lifers' would argue that because of particularly twisted purpose, prenatal diagnosis must be abolished. Furthermore, I will acknowledge that the Termination of Pregnancy Bill as we have it, is appraised by feminists movements and others who are not necessarily feminists as allowing increased and unrestricted access to 'free' and 'safe' abortion in the government hospitals and clinics. However, I argue that this was rather prematurely introduced. I argue that a number of pregnant women claiming to be poor still present themselves to private doctors and private clinics for abortion and they pay anything between R 600- 800 or more depending where these services are provided. On the other hand, for one reason or another, other women still choose to terminate their pregnancies back street way although the risks are high in such servicing stations. In the light of these facts, one wonders whether it is appropriate to legislate for the termination of pregnancy or would it have been a worthwhile decision to delay the legislation of abortion for a while and thoroughly make a research and relevant preparation for it. I also argue that ideology plays an important part in the abortion debates. Besides, the abortion debate is also characterised by indoctrination, the purpose of which is to leave other confused. In both cases facts are misrepresented or false statements are made, and this for me is ethically unacceptable. I will also comment on the importance of linguistics, that is, the proper understanding of normal English terms and what I refer to as 'deceptive language' used by campaigners. Inthe last part of this thesis, I will outline some basic approaches to ethics and which belong to what is referred to as postmodernism. The Postmodern worldview deconstructs metanarratives so that no one particular belief is more believable than another. This worldview bring with it ethical relativism, which is a theory which holds that morality is relative to the individual. Three movements are given as an example of this move toward ethical relativism, they are: (a) Emotivism, (b) Subjectivism, and (c) Situationalism While I will argue that rape and incest are evil acts, and support abortion in cases involving such acts, however, I also believe that abortion is not the answer to the problem of rape and incest. I will propose a number of recommendations the South African government should have made before legislating for abortion. For instance, by creating separate abortion service facilities even in the hospital premises, with properly trained staff; so that people who came to seek advice for abortion are not intimidated by those who go to full terms with their pregnancy. Included in this thesis is a case study to demonstrate the complexity of the abortion issue to everyone involved. Some psychological and emotional symptoms following abortion will be outlined and this according to women who do share their abortion story is a reality they have to live with every day of their lives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Aborsie is moontlik een van die mees veelbesproke kwessies van ons tyd, sowel in Suid- Afrika as wêreldwyd. 'n Groeiende aantal vroue erken dat hulle al een gehad het. Basies is daar twee opponerende gesigspunte en waardes betrokke by die twispunt rondom aborsie. Aborsie was voor die aanvaarding van die jongste wetgewing (d.w.s. voor 1 Februarie 1997) in Suid-Afrika slegs moontlik onder streng beperkings. Voor die huidige wet ( die "Termination of Pregnancy Bill") in werking gekom het, het die meerderheid vroue geen toegang tot aborsie gehad in Suid-Afrika nie, wat gelei het tot 'n toename in agterstraat aborsies. Die nuwe wet gee nie slegs die reg om te aborteer aan vroue wat swanger is as gevolg van kriminele optrede soos verkragting of bloedskande nie. Die huidige, buitengewooon liberale wet gee ook vir alle praktiese doeleindes aan die vroue die reg om aborsie op versoek te ondergaan tot op 20 weke van swangerskap. Die doel van hierdie werkstuk is om hierdie nuwe liberale wet aan 'n krities ondersoek te onderwerp. Deel van die etiese dilemma rondom die kwessie van aborsie spruit voort uit die feit dat daar diegene is wat reken dat, indien daar enige konflik tussen regte en belange is, die regte van die fetus ondergeskik is aan die regte van die swanger vrou. Diegene ten gunste van aborsie voer aan dat die keuse gemaak moet word deur die betrokke vrou, en dat so 'n keuse uitsluitlik haar eie is. Ek argumenteer dat dit nie noodwendig die geval is nie. Die vader van die ongebore kind behoort ook 'n sê te hê in hierdie saak. Gegee dat elke aborsie sekere risiko's insluit, het die ouers van die betrokke vrou en die samelewing ook 'n belang by so ,'n situasie. Dus is om slegs te praat van die 'vrou se reg om te Ides' om te suggereer dat moraliteit "relatief' is, en sulke relativisme word afgelei van die idee van die privatisering van aborsie en die lewe in die algemeen. In die volgende bladsye sal ek die argumente vir en teen aborsie analiseer en kritiseer. Die etiese implikasies van die nuwe Termination of Pregnancy Act word veral bespreek. Tegnologiese vooruitgang het dit moontlik gemaak dat die ongebore baba se fisiese (en soms selfs mentale) kondisie bepaal kan word voor geboorte. Die etiese implikasies van die mediese intervensie word gebruik om te besluit of die ongebore baba moet lewe of sterf Dus, indien die doel van prenatale diagnose die moontlike vernietiging van die ongeborene insluit, sal diegene wat teen aborsie is, argumenteer dat so 'n verwronge doel veroorsaak dat sulke ondersoeke gestaak behoort te word. Ek sal erken dat die nuwe wet waardeer word deur feministe, en andere wat nie noodwendig feministe is nie, as 'n wet wat dit moontlik maak dat daar toenemende en onbeperkte toegang is tot 'gratis' en 'veilige' aborsies in regeringshospitale en klinieke. Maar ek wil argumenteer dat die wet te vroeg aangeneem is. Ek argumenteer dat 'n groot aantal verwagtende vroue voorgee dat hulle arm is en poog om 'n aborsie te kry by private dokters en klinieke, en dan tussen R600 - R800 of meer betaal vir so 'n diens, afhangende van waar dit geskied. Aan die ander kant, om een of ander rede, kies sommige vroue steeds om hulle swangerskappe te termineer deur agterstraat-aborsies, ten spyte van die risiko's. Gegewe hierdie feit, wonder mens of dit gepas was on 'n wet in te stel aangaande die terminasie van swangerskap, en of dit nie beter sou wees om die wetgewing uit te stel tot volledige navorsing gedoen is en voorbereiding getref is nie. Ek argumenteer ook dat ideologie 'n belangrike rol speel in die aborsie-debat. Die aborsie-debat word ook gekenmerk deur indoktrinasie ten einde mense te verwar. In beide gevalle is daar die wanvoorstelling van feite of word valse stellings gemaak, wat eties onaanvaarbaar is. Ek salook kommentaar lewer oor die belangrikheid van taal, dws die korrekte verstaan van normale (Engelse) terme en wat ek na verwys as die 'misleidende taal' wat gebruik word deur sekere kampvegters betrokke by die debat. In die laaste deel van die werkstuk sal ek sekere basiese benaderings tot etiek ondersoek, veral dié wat na verwys word as "postmodernisme". Die Postmoderne gesigspunt dekonstrueer metanarratiewe sodat geen spesifieke oordeel langer meer geloofwaardig is as 'n ander nie. Hierdie gesigspunt word dan ook vergesel deur etiese relativisme, wat huldig dat moraliteit relatief is tot die individu. Drie bewegings word genoem as voorbeelde van hierdie beweging na etiese relativisme, nl: (a) Emotivisme, (b) Subjektivisme, en (c) Situasie-etiek Alhoewel ek argumenteer dat verkragting en bloedskande morele verkeerd is, en alhoewel ek aborsie in sulke gevalle voorstaan, glo ek nie dat aborsie 'n antwoord bied op die probleem van verkragting en bloedskande nie. Ek sal 'n aantal voorstelle maak aangaande wat eintlik moes gebeur het voor die regering die huidige aborsiewet aanvaar het. Byvoorbeeld, dat aparte aborsie-fasiliteite, selfs by die hospitaal en met opgeleide personeel, geskep moes word ten einde te voorkom dat diegene wat advies vra aangaande aborsie nie geïntimideer word deur persone wat nie wil aborteer nie. Ingesluit in hierdie studie is 'n gevallestudie wat die kompleksiteit van die kwessie rondom aborsie, vir al die rolspelers, demonstreer. Sekere emosionele en sielkundige simptome, veroorsaak deurdat 'n persoon besluit het om te aborteer, sal geskets word. Vir vroue wat 'n aborsie ondergaan het is hierdie 'n realiteit waarmee hulle elke dag moet saamleef

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An exploratory study of the extent and nature of adolescent pregnancy resolution and pre-abortion counselling was undertaken. Little research has been done on pre-abortion counselling in South Africa since the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act (92 of 1996) was passed in February 1997. This study emphasised pre-abortion counselling since this is a new field for most counsellors. A literature study was conducted on adolescent pregnancy, focussing on the factors and possible consequences of the choice to carry the pregnancy to term or to terminate it. Adolescents, more than adults, need assistance to make this decision. Crisis intervention was explored as a possible counselling model for pregnancy resolution and pre-abortion counselling. The preliminary investigation included interviews with social workers and nursing professionals in Mossel Bay. Nursing professionals were included in the study since they administer the pregnancy tests and are therefore the first professionals with whom the pregnant adolescent comes into contact. This investigation revealed that nurses, not social workers, do most of the preabortion counselling in Mossel Bay. The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act emphasises the importance of supplying pre and post-abortion counselling at the facility providing the termination of pregnancy. The Act also envisages this as primarily a medical concern, with the implication that nursing professionals should do the counselling. The role of professional counsellors such as social workers is not mentioned in the Act. The Act lays down that training will be provided to equip nursing professionals with necessary skills to render this service. The empirical study examined the training and skills of nursing professionals and social workers to determine whether they were adequately qualified to render these services. The respondents' attitude towards pregnant adolescents who choose abortion was also investigated, since this would influence their counselling skills. The investigation revealed that many of the nurses did not seem confident in their counselling although they felt that they were adequately qualified to counsel pregnant adolescents. The nurses explained that they did not feel that they had enough knowledge of the different options, especially foster care and adoption and therefore referred patients to a social worker or Options Pregnancy Centre (a volunteer based counselling centre). The social workers felt confident in counselling adolescents who decided to carry pregnancy to term. The counselling model used was crisis intervention, which is most appropriate for pre-abortion counselling as well. However they felt that they did not have enough information of abortion procedures and emotional consequences of abortion to counsel a pregnant adolescent requesting an abortion effectively. The study showed that respondents felt empathy and understanding for the adolescents' situation and the seriousness of the decision needing to be made. The study also found that social workers and nurses were willing to attend further training in order to improve their knowledge and their counselling skills. The training should therefore not focus on attitudes but simply on improving counselling skills. Training should focus on the nature of a crisis and the steps of crisis intervention. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Studie is gedoen om die aard en omvang insake die besluitneming ten opsigte van tienerswangerskappe en berading voor 'n aborsie te ondersoek. Sedert die Wet op Beëindiging van Swangerskap (92 van 1996) in Februarie, is weinig navorsing in Suid-Afrika gedoen oor berading voor 'n aborsie. Hierdie studie beklemtoon voorafgaande berading aangaande aborsie, aangesien dit 'n onbekende terrein vir baie beraders is. 'n Literatuurstudie oor tienerswangerskap is geloods met die fokus op faktore en moontlike gevolge van die keuse om die volle termyn van die swangerskap te voltooi of die beëindiging daarvan. Adolessente het meer ondersteuning nodig as volwassenes om so 'n keuse uit te oefen. Krisis-ingryping is ondersoek as 'n moontlike model vir die beslissing van 'n swangerskap en berading wat 'n aborsie voorafgaan. Met die voor-ondersoek is onderhoude met maatskaplike werkers en verpleegkundiges in Mosselbaai gevoer. Verpleegkundiges was deel van die studie aangesien hulle die eerste kundiges is met wie die swanger tiener in aanraking kom, omdat hulle die swangerskaptoetse uitvoer. Dié navorsing toon dat verpleegsters in Mosselbaai (nie maatskaplike werkers nie) grotendeels die berading voor 'n aborsie hanteer. Die Wet benadruk hoe belangrik dit is om beradingsdienste vir voor- en na-aborsie te voorsien by die plek waar die aborsie toegepas word. Dié Wet beskou dit ook primêr as 'n mediese aangeleentheid, gevolglik behoort verpleegkundiges die berading te doen. Daar word egter nie melding gemaak van die rol van professionele beraders soos maatskaplike werkers, in dié verband nie. Die Wet bepaal ook dat verpleegkundiges opleiding sal ontvang om hulle met vaardighede toe te rus om so 'n diens te lewer. Die opleiding en vaardighede van verpleegkundiges en maatskaplike werkers is dus getoets aan die hand van studies, gegrond op praktiese ervaring, om te bepaal of hulle bevoegd is om die dienste te lewer. Daar is ook ondersoek ingestel na die respondente se houding teenoor die swanger adolessent wat 'n aborsie verkies, aangesien hul vermoë om die berading te hanteer, beïnvloed kan word. Die ondersoek toon dat baie verpleegsters onseker voorgekom het tydens berading, hoewel hulle gevoel het dat hulle bekwaam is om swanger adolessente te adviseer. Hulle verklaar dat hulle nie genoeg kennis oor die verskillende opsies, veral pleegsorg en aanneming, gehad het nie, en dus pasiënte na 'n maatskaplike werker of Options Pregnancy Centre verwys het. Maatskaplike werkers het berading aan swanger adolessente wat die termyn van die swangerskap wou voltooi, met sekerheid hanteer. In die proses is krisis-ingryping uitgeoefen wat dan ook gepas is vir berading voor 'n aborsie. Die maatskaplike werkers het egter gevoel dat hulle nie genoeg inligting oor die aborsieproses en die emosionele gevolge daarvan gehad het om die swanger adolessent wat 'n aborsie verlang, effektief voor te lig nie. Die studie het getoon dat respondente die adolessent se situasie en die erns van die besluit wat gemaak moes word, met empatie en begrip hanteer het. Met die studie is ook bevind dat maatskaplike werkers en verpleegsters bereid was om verdere opleiding te ontvang en sodoende hul kennis en vaardighede te verbeter. Die opleiding moet dus nie op houdings fokus nie, maar eerder die ontwikkeling van vaardighede. Dit behoort te fokus op die aard van die krisis en die stappe van krisis-intervensie.

This dissertation examines Peter Singer's proposed ethical value of the "person" in Rethinking Life and Death . Chapter 1 introduces and outlines Singer's proposal, which argues for abortion, infanticide, euthanasia, and assisted suicide. His proposal consists of four key points. First, there is the foundation for his proposal--rejecting creation for evolution. Second, there is the substance of his proposal--replacing the value of the "human" with the value of the "person." Third, there is the criteria for his proposal--using "indicators" and "relevant characteristics" to identify the kinds of beings who qualify as "persons." Fourth, there are the consequences of his proposal--promising an ethical "Copernican Revolution." Chapters 2-5 critically evaluate the four key ideas from Singer above. The evaluation of the respective key idea in each chapter covers five steps: (1) the context of Singer's proposal; (2) the content of Singer's proposal; (3) positive evaluation; (4) negative critique; and (5) conclusion. The research methodology for the dissertation is to treat Singer's ethical proposal on the "person" as a hypothesis to be tested by his own truth standards of logical consistency, empirical evidence, and practicality. Following these four key chapters, Chapter 6 provides "Summary and Conclusions." The conclusion of this dissertation is that Peter Singer's proposal on life and death is not to be commended because its key elements are not supported by his own standards for testing truth. In fact, when examined by his own truth tests, Singer's program should be rejected because its foundation is faulty, its substance is illusory, its criteria are circular, and its consequences would be grave. / This item is only available to students and faculty of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. If you are not associated with SBTS, this dissertation may be purchased from <a href="http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb">http://disexpress.umi.com/dxweb</a> or downloaded through ProQuest's Dissertation and Theses database if your institution subscribes to that service.