Between reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare services: narratives of reproductive rights activists in South Africa
- Authors: Jacobs, Marc
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Reproductive rights -- South Africa , Reproductive rights -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Human reproduction -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Reproductive health -- South Africa , Abortion -- Government policy -- South Africa , South Africa. Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/17707 , vital:22270
- Description: The motivation behind the research paper, “Between reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare services: Narratives of reproductive rights activists in South Africa” stems from the notion that civil society groups have often played a critical role in addressing social justice issues concerning women’s rights. Since 1996 after implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act, South Africa has frequently been praised for its progressive abortion laws that formally recognises women’s need for reproductive autonomy and equality. However, ineffective implementation has resulted in many women facing a combination of barriers to accessing reproductive healthcare services. Thus, resulting in some women opting for unsafe, illegal abortion services and placing their health and lives in danger. The purpose of the study, therefore, is to capture the perceptions of contemporary South African based reproductive rights activists and NGOs who engage in campaigns that seek to highlight the complex relationship between reproductive rights and access to such rights. Data for the study was collected through open-ended questionnaires in which participants provided their unique opinions as activists who regularly engage with the abortion and access issues in South Africa. Results from the study suggest that ineffective implementation of the CTOP Act can be attributed to a lack of political will to prioritise women’s sexual and reproductive rights, thereby further marginalising women in society. Results also point to the need for widespread support from civil society on women’s rights matters so that the State can more effectively be held accountable for catering to the most marginalised women in South African society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
- Authors: Jacobs, Marc
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Reproductive rights -- South Africa , Reproductive rights -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Human reproduction -- Law and legislation -- South Africa , Reproductive health -- South Africa , Abortion -- Government policy -- South Africa , South Africa. Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1996
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/17707 , vital:22270
- Description: The motivation behind the research paper, “Between reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare services: Narratives of reproductive rights activists in South Africa” stems from the notion that civil society groups have often played a critical role in addressing social justice issues concerning women’s rights. Since 1996 after implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act, South Africa has frequently been praised for its progressive abortion laws that formally recognises women’s need for reproductive autonomy and equality. However, ineffective implementation has resulted in many women facing a combination of barriers to accessing reproductive healthcare services. Thus, resulting in some women opting for unsafe, illegal abortion services and placing their health and lives in danger. The purpose of the study, therefore, is to capture the perceptions of contemporary South African based reproductive rights activists and NGOs who engage in campaigns that seek to highlight the complex relationship between reproductive rights and access to such rights. Data for the study was collected through open-ended questionnaires in which participants provided their unique opinions as activists who regularly engage with the abortion and access issues in South Africa. Results from the study suggest that ineffective implementation of the CTOP Act can be attributed to a lack of political will to prioritise women’s sexual and reproductive rights, thereby further marginalising women in society. Results also point to the need for widespread support from civil society on women’s rights matters so that the State can more effectively be held accountable for catering to the most marginalised women in South African society.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2017
Conscientious objection and South African medical practitioners' constructions of termination of pregnancy and emergency contraception
- Authors: Chiwandire, Desire
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Abortion -- South Africa , Abortion -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Emergency contraceptives -- South Africa , Contraception -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- Attitudes -- South Africa , Patients -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Reproductive rights -- South Africa , Women's rights -- South Africa , Liberty of conscience
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:2888 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017863
- Description: Aim: The 1996 Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act decriminalized abortion in South Africa and the South African Medicines Control Council in 2000 approved the dispensing of emergency contraceptive methods by pharmacists to women without a doctor's prescription. This legislation has been hailed as among the most progressive in the world with respect to women's reproductive justice. However the realisation of these rights in practice has not always met expectations in part due to medical practitioners' ethical objections to termination of pregnancy and the provision of related services. The aim of this study was to interpret the varying ways in which medical practitioners frame termination of pregnancy and emergency contraceptive services, their own professional identities and that of their patients/clients. Methods: Sample of 58 doctors and 59 pharmacists drawn from all nine provinces of South Africa. Data collected using an anonymous confidential internet-based self-administered questionnaire. Participants were randomly recruited from online listings of South African doctors and pharmacists practicing in both private and public sectors. Data were analysed using theoretically derived qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants drew on eight frames to justify their willingness or unwillingness to provide termination-of-pregnancy related services: the foetal life frame, the women's rights frame, the balancing frame, the social justice frame, the do no harm frame, the legal and professional obligation frame, the consequences frame and the moral absolutist frame. Conclusion: Health professionals' willingness or unwillingness to provide termination of pregnancy related services is highly dependent on how they frame or understand termination of pregnancy, and how they understand their own professional identities and those of their patients/clients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
- Authors: Chiwandire, Desire
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Abortion -- South Africa , Abortion -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Emergency contraceptives -- South Africa , Contraception -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Medical personnel -- Attitudes -- South Africa , Patients -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- South Africa , Reproductive rights -- South Africa , Women's rights -- South Africa , Liberty of conscience
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:2888 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017863
- Description: Aim: The 1996 Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act decriminalized abortion in South Africa and the South African Medicines Control Council in 2000 approved the dispensing of emergency contraceptive methods by pharmacists to women without a doctor's prescription. This legislation has been hailed as among the most progressive in the world with respect to women's reproductive justice. However the realisation of these rights in practice has not always met expectations in part due to medical practitioners' ethical objections to termination of pregnancy and the provision of related services. The aim of this study was to interpret the varying ways in which medical practitioners frame termination of pregnancy and emergency contraceptive services, their own professional identities and that of their patients/clients. Methods: Sample of 58 doctors and 59 pharmacists drawn from all nine provinces of South Africa. Data collected using an anonymous confidential internet-based self-administered questionnaire. Participants were randomly recruited from online listings of South African doctors and pharmacists practicing in both private and public sectors. Data were analysed using theoretically derived qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants drew on eight frames to justify their willingness or unwillingness to provide termination-of-pregnancy related services: the foetal life frame, the women's rights frame, the balancing frame, the social justice frame, the do no harm frame, the legal and professional obligation frame, the consequences frame and the moral absolutist frame. Conclusion: Health professionals' willingness or unwillingness to provide termination of pregnancy related services is highly dependent on how they frame or understand termination of pregnancy, and how they understand their own professional identities and those of their patients/clients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2015
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