The effects of termination of pregnancy on black adolescent schoolgirls in the Eastern Free State

Abstract

English: The procurement of termination of pregnancy (TOP) by schoolgirls has become a concern since adolescent girls eighteen years and younger account for over half of legal -. terminations procured in South Africa (2001). This study examines the effects of TOP on black adolescent schoolgirls in the Eastern Free State. For the empirical research data were gathered through structured interviews with Life Orientation educators who observed and assisted TOP procurers at their respective schools as well as adolescents undergoing TOP procurement at a designated institution in the Eastern Free State. Permission to conduct the study was granted by the Free State departments of Education and Health. The ethical authenticity of the study was verified by the Ethics Committee at the University of the Free State. Findings of the study suggest that, beside psychological and emotional pain and affiiction, legal termination presents little or no serious health risks and is therefore generally safe. However, a decline in academic achievement and certain adjustment and relationship problems among learners who procured TOP could be observed. Withdrawal, absenteeism, dropping out of school and a lowered self-esteem also occurred. Attempts at alleviating the negative effects of TOP on schoolgirls are therefore appropriate. Findings (e.g. minimum efforts in assisting these learners to cope at school and inadequately trained educators in dealing with related problems) suggest the need for educator training in this regard. Further recommendations of the study are the implementation of pregnancy prevention programmes, relevant counselling and the establishment of an inter-institutional forum for TOP as ameliorative measures.Afrikaans:Die verkryging van toestemming vir die beëindiging van swangerskap deur skooldogters het 'n saak van erns geword, aangesien meer as die helfte van wettige swangerskapbeëindigings in Suid-Afrika (2001) voorgekom het onder adolessente skooldogters van agtien jaar en jonger. Hierdie studie ondersoek die effek van swangerskapbeëindiging op swart adolessente skooldogters in die Oos-Vrystaat. Vir die empiriese navorsing is data verkry deur gestruktureerde onderhoude gevoer met Oos- Vrystaatse onderwysers in Lewensoriëntering wat leerders waargeneem en geassisteer het wat in hulle onderskeie skole sowel as by aangewese inrigtings toestemming verkry het tot swangerskapbeëindiging. Toestemming om die studie te kon onderneem, is toegestaan deur die Departemente van Onderwys en Gesondheid. Die etiese outentisiteit van die studie was geverifieer deur die Etiese Komitee van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat. Bevindinge van die studie toon aan dat, benewens psigologiese en emosionele pyn en leed wat wettige beëindiging van swangerskap meebring, daar geen ernstige gesondheidsrisiko aan verbonde is nie en dat dit gevolglik oor die algemeen veilig is. Daar is egter wel 'n afname in akademiese prestasie asook sekere aanpassings- en verhoudingsprobleme by hierdie leerders waargeneem. Onttrekking, afwesigheid, skoolverlating en 'n swak selfesteem kom ook voor. Dit is gevolglik essensieel dat pogings aangewend sal word om die negatiewe uitwerking van aborsie op skooldogters te probeer uitskakel. Bevindinge (bv. minimum pogings in die assistering van hierdie leerders om aan te pas op skool en onvoldoende opgeleide onderwysers om leerders met verwante probleme te kan hanteer) bevestig die behoefte aan onderwyseropleiding in dié verband. Verdere aanbevelings in die studie IS die implementering van swangerskapsvoorkomingsprogramme, relevante voorligting en die daarstelling van 'n inter-institusionele forum vir die verbetering van die situasie.