Women's experiences of abortion in South Africa : an exploratory study

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorSwartz, Sallyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMcCulloch, Ursula Ren_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-14T08:56:38Z
dc.date.available2015-07-14T08:56:38Z
dc.date.issued1996en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: leaves 90-94.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractIn South Africa the provision of legal abortion is currently restricted by law and many women procure illegal abortions. Abortion law is currently under appraisal, with a possible move towards liberalising abortion availability. Following a brief history of abortion legislation and a research review on abortion sequelae and the factors influencing risk for negative post-abortion sequelae, this study explores the wide range of variables which together form women's experiences of abortion in South Africa. These include both the social context of abortion and women's individual perspectives. Twelve women volunteers who had undergone abortion in South Africa were gathered through the University of Cape Town and interviewed on their experiences. A semi-structured interview schedule was used, and interviews were audio-taped and transcribed. Interview questions were based on past research into factors affecting abortion experiences and post-abortion adjustment. Responses were analysed thematically according to the circumstances of the / pregnancy, the decision-making around the abortion, access to abortion, post-abortion responses and ideas for pre- and post-abortion counselling. Findings suggest that abortion is followed by a range of responses, influenced by the meaningfulness of the pregnancy to the woman involved, her belief system, her personal circumstances, the extent to which she feels in control of her circumstances, her coping style, and the social climate surrounding the abortion experience. The participants acknowledged the benefits of abortion counselling, particularly for women who suffer post-abortion distress, who are ambivalent about their abortions, or who are forced by external circumstances to choose abortion. Suggestions on issues necessary to address in abortion counselling are made. Recommendations for future abortion research are included.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationMcCulloch, U. R. (1996). <i>Women's experiences of abortion in South Africa : an exploratory study</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13487en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMcCulloch, Ursula R. <i>"Women's experiences of abortion in South Africa : an exploratory study."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13487en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMcCulloch, U. 1996. Women's experiences of abortion in South Africa : an exploratory study. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - McCulloch, Ursula R AB - In South Africa the provision of legal abortion is currently restricted by law and many women procure illegal abortions. Abortion law is currently under appraisal, with a possible move towards liberalising abortion availability. Following a brief history of abortion legislation and a research review on abortion sequelae and the factors influencing risk for negative post-abortion sequelae, this study explores the wide range of variables which together form women's experiences of abortion in South Africa. These include both the social context of abortion and women's individual perspectives. Twelve women volunteers who had undergone abortion in South Africa were gathered through the University of Cape Town and interviewed on their experiences. A semi-structured interview schedule was used, and interviews were audio-taped and transcribed. Interview questions were based on past research into factors affecting abortion experiences and post-abortion adjustment. Responses were analysed thematically according to the circumstances of the / pregnancy, the decision-making around the abortion, access to abortion, post-abortion responses and ideas for pre- and post-abortion counselling. Findings suggest that abortion is followed by a range of responses, influenced by the meaningfulness of the pregnancy to the woman involved, her belief system, her personal circumstances, the extent to which she feels in control of her circumstances, her coping style, and the social climate surrounding the abortion experience. The participants acknowledged the benefits of abortion counselling, particularly for women who suffer post-abortion distress, who are ambivalent about their abortions, or who are forced by external circumstances to choose abortion. Suggestions on issues necessary to address in abortion counselling are made. Recommendations for future abortion research are included. DA - 1996 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1996 T1 - Women's experiences of abortion in South Africa : an exploratory study TI - Women's experiences of abortion in South Africa : an exploratory study UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13487 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13487
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMcCulloch UR. Women's experiences of abortion in South Africa : an exploratory study. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Psychology, 1996 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13487en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Psychologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherClinical Psychologyen_ZA
dc.titleWomen's experiences of abortion in South Africa : an exploratory studyen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_hum_1996_mcculloch_ur.pdf
Size:
6.63 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters