Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?

Background: This study determined the profile of women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Free State and whether TOP was used as a family planning method. Methods: Seven hundred and fifty women (15–47 years old) seeking TOP at the Reproductive Health Unit of the National Hospital in Bl...

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Main Authors: F. Lang, G. Joubert, E.A.M. Prinsloo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2005-07-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/234
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author F. Lang
G. Joubert
E.A.M. Prinsloo
author_facet F. Lang
G. Joubert
E.A.M. Prinsloo
author_sort F. Lang
collection DOAJ
description Background: This study determined the profile of women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Free State and whether TOP was used as a family planning method. Methods: Seven hundred and fifty women (15–47 years old) seeking TOP at the Reproductive Health Unit of the National Hospital in Bloemfontein were included in this cross-sectional study. The women who gave verbal consent completed a questionnaire during counselling. Results: The median age of the participants was 24 years and 77.3% were single. Most participants (73.3%) were not using any family planning method at the time of the study. One-fifth (19.1%) had previously had at least one TOP, while for 80.9% of the participants it was their first visit. Some participants (16.6%) considered TOP a family planning method, 39.7% were unsure and 43.7% indicated that TOP is not a family planning method. Thirty-nine women failed to answer this question. When asked the reason for TOP, 3.5% chose the option “contraceptive method”. Conclusions: The relatively high percentage of participants who consider TOP a contraceptive method or are unsure, associated with the fact that most were young, single, not using contraception and had applied for induced abortion just because the conception represented an unwanted pregnancy, implies that some of our population is not aware that termination of pregnancy is not a family planning method.
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spelling doaj-art-3be63d177157429488f4e9cbdce3df522025-08-20T03:44:02ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042005-07-0147510.1080/20786204.2005.10873232233Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?F. Lang0G. Joubert1E.A.M. Prinsloo2Department of Family Medicine, University of the Free StateDepartment of Biostatistics, University of the Free StateDepartment of Family Medicine, University of the Free StateBackground: This study determined the profile of women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Free State and whether TOP was used as a family planning method. Methods: Seven hundred and fifty women (15–47 years old) seeking TOP at the Reproductive Health Unit of the National Hospital in Bloemfontein were included in this cross-sectional study. The women who gave verbal consent completed a questionnaire during counselling. Results: The median age of the participants was 24 years and 77.3% were single. Most participants (73.3%) were not using any family planning method at the time of the study. One-fifth (19.1%) had previously had at least one TOP, while for 80.9% of the participants it was their first visit. Some participants (16.6%) considered TOP a family planning method, 39.7% were unsure and 43.7% indicated that TOP is not a family planning method. Thirty-nine women failed to answer this question. When asked the reason for TOP, 3.5% chose the option “contraceptive method”. Conclusions: The relatively high percentage of participants who consider TOP a contraceptive method or are unsure, associated with the fact that most were young, single, not using contraception and had applied for induced abortion just because the conception represented an unwanted pregnancy, implies that some of our population is not aware that termination of pregnancy is not a family planning method.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/234termination of pregnancyfamily planning method
spellingShingle F. Lang
G. Joubert
E.A.M. Prinsloo
Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?
South African Family Practice
termination of pregnancy
family planning method
title Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?
title_full Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?
title_fullStr Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?
title_full_unstemmed Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?
title_short Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?
title_sort is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the free state
topic termination of pregnancy
family planning method
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/234
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