Health care providers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy: A qualitative study in South Africa

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dc.contributor.authorHarries, Janeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorStinson, Kathrynen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorOrner, Phyllisen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-28T06:55:35Z
dc.date.available2015-10-28T06:55:35Z
dc.date.issued2009en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND:Despite changes to the abortion legislation in South Africa in 1996, barriers to women accessing abortion services still exist including provider opposition to abortions and a shortage of trained and willing abortion care providers. The dearth of abortion providers undermines the availability of safe, legal abortion, and has serious implications for women's access to abortion services and health service planning.In South Africa, little is known about the personal and professional attitudes of individuals who are currently working in abortion service provision. Exploring the factors which determine health care providers' involvement or disengagement in abortion services may facilitate improvement in the planning and provision of future services. METHODS: Qualitative research methods were used to collect data. Thirty four in-depth interviews and one focus group discussion were conducted during 2006 and 2007 with health care providers who were involved in a range of abortion provision in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Complex patterns of service delivery were prevalent throughout many of the health care facilities, and fragmented levels of service provision operated in order to accommodate health care providers' willingness to be involved in different aspects of abortion provision. Related to this was the need expressed by many providers for dedicated, stand-alone abortion clinics thereby creating a more supportive environment for both clients and providers. Almost all providers were concerned about the numerous difficulties women faced in seeking an abortion and their general quality of care. An overriding concern was poor pre and post abortion counselling including contraceptive counselling and provision. CONCLUSION: This is the first known qualitative study undertaken in South Africa exploring providers' attitudes towards abortion and adds to the body of information addressing the barriers to safe abortion services. In order to sustain a pool of abortion providers, programmes which both attract prospective abortion providers, and retain existing providers, needs to be developed and financial compensation for abortion care providers needs to be considered.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationHarries, J., Stinson, K., & Orner, P. (2009). Health care providers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy: A qualitative study in South Africa. <i>BMC Public Health</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14442en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHarries, Jane, Kathryn Stinson, and Phyllis Orner "Health care providers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy: A qualitative study in South Africa." <i>BMC Public Health</i> (2009) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14442en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHarries, J., Stinson, K., & Orner, P. (2009). Health care providers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy: A qualitative study in South Africa. BMC Public Health, 9(1), 296.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Harries, Jane AU - Stinson, Kathryn AU - Orner, Phyllis AB - BACKGROUND:Despite changes to the abortion legislation in South Africa in 1996, barriers to women accessing abortion services still exist including provider opposition to abortions and a shortage of trained and willing abortion care providers. The dearth of abortion providers undermines the availability of safe, legal abortion, and has serious implications for women's access to abortion services and health service planning.In South Africa, little is known about the personal and professional attitudes of individuals who are currently working in abortion service provision. Exploring the factors which determine health care providers' involvement or disengagement in abortion services may facilitate improvement in the planning and provision of future services. METHODS: Qualitative research methods were used to collect data. Thirty four in-depth interviews and one focus group discussion were conducted during 2006 and 2007 with health care providers who were involved in a range of abortion provision in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Complex patterns of service delivery were prevalent throughout many of the health care facilities, and fragmented levels of service provision operated in order to accommodate health care providers' willingness to be involved in different aspects of abortion provision. Related to this was the need expressed by many providers for dedicated, stand-alone abortion clinics thereby creating a more supportive environment for both clients and providers. Almost all providers were concerned about the numerous difficulties women faced in seeking an abortion and their general quality of care. An overriding concern was poor pre and post abortion counselling including contraceptive counselling and provision. CONCLUSION: This is the first known qualitative study undertaken in South Africa exploring providers' attitudes towards abortion and adds to the body of information addressing the barriers to safe abortion services. In order to sustain a pool of abortion providers, programmes which both attract prospective abortion providers, and retain existing providers, needs to be developed and financial compensation for abortion care providers needs to be considered. DA - 2009 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1186/1471-2458-9-296 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - BMC Public Health LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2009 T1 - Health care providers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy: A qualitative study in South Africa TI - Health care providers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy: A qualitative study in South Africa UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14442 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14442
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-296
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHarries J, Stinson K, Orner P. Health care providers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy: A qualitative study in South Africa. BMC Public Health. 2009; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14442.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltden_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentWomen's Health Research Uniten_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licenseen_ZA
dc.rights.holder2009 Harries et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.en_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0en_ZA
dc.sourceBMC Public Healthen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/en_ZA
dc.subject.otherAbortion, Induceden_ZA
dc.subject.otherAttitude of Health Personnelen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPregnancyen_ZA
dc.titleHealth care providers' attitudes towards termination of pregnancy: A qualitative study in South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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