Fertility

Medical abortion

Series Name: 
Nursing Update
Published by: 
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

South Africa currently only provides for medical abortion in the private sector – however, the National Department of Health is finalising guidelines for implementation in the public sector. Given the demand for abortion services by women, the limited accessibility of surgical abortion there is a need to make medical abortion services available. This should address illegalmedical abortion providers currently advertising on lamppostsin public areas and the concerning maternal mortality rates.

Aids is a human rights issue

Series Name: 
Nursing Update
Published by: 
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa
Marion Stevens, Women and HIV/AIDS Gauge, Health Systems Trust, shares initiatives in the pipeline to make Aids testing safer.

Barriers to Womens Rights in Implementation of The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOPA) in KwaZulu- Natal

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust

Unsafe abortions are recognised as a global health problem. It is estimated that, worldwide and annually, twenty (20) million abortions are induced by untrained people under medically unsafe conditions. It is further estimated that, worldwide and annually, eighty thousand (80 000) women die as a result of unsafe abortions while another five (5) million women suffer non-fatal health problems (UNDP) as a consequence of unsafe abortions.

Food additives cut rate of birth defect

The governments food fortification programme has led to a 40% decline in spina bifida, a birth defect linked to folic acid deficiency, new research by South African scientists shows. The study is important as it highlights how a relatively cheap intervention has had a major effect on public health.

Sexuality and Religion in the Time of AIDS

Published by: 
African Regional Sexuality Resource Centre
A presentation made at the March 2005 Understanding Human Sexuality Seminar.

It is undeniable that Christian churches have made a big contribution towards shaping attitudes around sexuality.

Treatment Monitor: Abortion

HIV-positive pregnant women should be told about and referred to, if they request this, abortion services as part of a continuum of care. Currently, only surgical abortions are available; however, medical abortion clinical guidelines are being finalized by the DOH. This should expand options for safe early legal termination of pregnancy; the earlier a pregnancy is terminated, the safer it will be. Medical abortion is generally done in the first 56 days of pregnancy so would assist greatly in reducing costs and the demands on a health facility.

Letter to the Editor - Lifting the Lid on Illegal Abortions

Your article 'Lifting the Lid on Illegal Abortions, 16 October 2007' makes clear the need for greater public awareness regarding the legality of termination of pregnancy (TOP), as well as for increased advocacy on behalf of women seeking TOP in South Africa. There were a few inaccuracies in the data presented. We are writing to correct these and to further convey the significance of the barriers women continue to face when attempting to access safe, legal TOP despite the passage of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOPA) in 1996.

Call for unit to root out illicit abortions

A separate unit dedicated to investigating illegal and backstreet abortion facilities may be needed to root out the increasing number of suspicious abortion facilities posing a danger to women's and public health.