Incorporation of Choice of Termination of Pregnancy in Nursing Education and Training in South Africa

South Africa is considered to be a pro-choice country by the world at large. It is hailed for its progressive legislation and pro-choice policy. The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act was (“CTOPA”) enacted in 1996, one of the first of its kind. Pro-choice activists around the world look to South Africa as the example.

In most countries around the world, the realisation of the right to terminate on a basic legislative basis is a continuous fight that is met with resistance. In countries such as El Salvador and Nicaragua, there is a total ban on abortions. In other words, abortions are banned even if the mother’s life is in danger. In fact, a number of countries are not pro-choice and abortion is permitted only if the pregnancy puts the woman’s’ life is at risk, if the fetus is not viable or the pregnancy is the result of the rape of the pregnant woman.

However, as is the case with a number of legislation enacted in a post democratic constitutional South Africa, the CTOPA is not a reflection of the lived reality for pregnant women who wish to terminate. In other words, there is a disjuncture between pro-choice legislation, the implementation of the Act and the provision of choice of termination of pregancy healthcare services. There was a lot of resistance among nursing personnel who are anti choice. Nurses are now allowed to refrain from taking part in the abortion procedure if it is against their belief system, In other words, they are allowed to conscientiously object. They are however expected to refer the patients to another provider. A large number of hospitals were designated to provide the CTOPA services. The CTOPA states that only a person “ who has undergone prescribed training in terms of this Act “ may perform abortions. However it is not clear if there are higher education institution designated to train nurses to acquire knowledge and skills to render the services. This paper seeks:

• to assess the training provided for Choice of termination of pregnancy (“CToP”) services in higher education institutions and other training providers
• To assess if CToP is part of the basic training qualifications of professional nurses.
• To determine the number of nurses trained to perform CToP in the Gauteng region.
• To explore and describe the perception of nurse educators regarding the inclusion of CToP in the curriculum

Research design and methods

The explanatory sequential mixed methods study will be conducted in three phases, however, only the results of phase 1 will be presented as this is an ongoin study.

Phase 1

An integrated literature review based on the data collected from statutory bodies in the profession, Department f health, Research council will be reviewed in order to determine the training provided for CToP services in higher education institutions and other training providers for nurses in South Africa, with a specific focus on the Gauteng region.

Phase 2

A descriptive survey will be conducted to assess if CToP services are part of the basic curriculum and to determine the number of nurses trained to perform CToP in the Gauteng region

Phase 3

Focus group Interviews will be conducted with nurse educators to explore and describe the perception of nurse educators regarding the inclusion of CToP in the curriculum

The poster will focus on the results of Phase (The literature review) which is currently being conducted.