When a young girl becomes pregnant she has the option to abort
SINCE the Abortion Act was legalised in 1997, 36 069 legal abortions have been performed at the Marie Stopes clinics nationwide. Of these, 5 700 have been performed on girls between the ages of 12 and 17.
A teenage girl is often not ready to bring a child into the world. ”There are often socio-economic problems,” says Maria Tina, the clinic coordinator for Marie Stopes Soweto. ”Financial problems, the lack of a support structure and emotional immaturity are often force a young girl to seek an abortion. The girl may have a vision for herself. She may want to do something with her life. Having a baby would prevent her from obtaining these things.”
Even though abortion is now legal, many backstreet abortions are performed every day. ”Some women wait too long [after 24 weeks] and in desperation approach a backstreet abortionist,” says Tina. ”This can lead to the woman losing her life.” Many young girls will enter a clinic unaware of what having an abortion entails. ”At Marie Stopes,” says Tina. ”the client is counselled and presented with the possibilities of other options like adoption or fostering. Once she is certain of her choice to have an abortion, the procedure can begin.
”At Marie Stopes the manual vacuum aspiration method is used. Oral tablets are taken to soften the mouth of the cervix. Painkillers are administered. Once the cervix dilates, contractions are experienced. Bleeding occurs. A vacuum is used to remove all products of conception. This takes three to five minutes. The entire process takes two to three hours.”
After an abortion a girl may experience feelings of relief accompanied by feelings of guilt, depression and anger. ”It is often hard for a young girl to express these feelings. Abortion is still viewed with shame,” says Tina, ”but, sex is not going to go away. With it the reality of pregnancy and abortion exist. It’s all about informing, enlightening and changing attitudes.” Tina attributes the high rate of unwanted pregnancies to ignorance and lack of parental communication. ”People prefer to sweep these issues under the carpet. Anything that is hidden becomes exciting. ”
Tina advises the use of safe contraception. ”Advice to abstain from sex is not realistic. Teenagers simply laugh when I suggest it.”
Abortion access
By ANDREA MEESON
At the parliamentary hearings on the implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act recently, the Reproductive Rights Alliance congratulated the government on its efforts to provide access to safe termination of pregnancy, and other reproductive health services to millions of South African women.
All pro-choice organisations agreed that problems of service delivery, including lack of access for women in rural areas, negative attitudes of health care workers and others to termination of pregnancy, and training of insufficient numbers of staff were barriers to implementation.
They agreed that these problems were not insurmountable and encouraged the members of the portfolio committee on health to seriously consider the suggestions presented in the submissions. The committee will meet to consider the recommendations.
— The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, August 2, 2000.
M&G Supplements