Healthcare professionals' knowledge and attitudes on termination of pregnancy in eThekwini.

IF 1.2 Q2 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL

South African Family Practice Pub Date : 2025-02-12 DOI:10.4102/safp.v67i1.6005

Tashnee Singh, Kantharuben Naidoo

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: While the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act No. 92 was legalised in 1996 permitting termination of pregnancy (TOP) to be accessed at various public health facilities in South Africa, unsafe abortions continue to take place outside of legally designated facilities. The aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals regarding TOP services at public primary healthcare (PHC) centres in the central business district (CBD) of the eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Methods: This quantitative, descriptive analysis used a questionnaire to obtain data from the healthcare professionals on four areas: demographic details, knowledge of (8 questions), attitudes to (10 questions) and practices (10 questions) regarding TOP services.

Results: Among the 91 participants (whose ages ranged from 32 to 48 years), 91.2% were female, 93.4% belonged to the Christian faith, 42.9% were professional nurses and 74.8% had more than 5 years' work experience. The mean of the overall knowledge, attitude and practice score was 51.7%, 67.4% and 62.8%, respectively, which indicated poor knowledge, moderate attitude and unacceptable practice.

Conclusion: While some healthcare professionals' knowledge regarding TOP services was poor, their personal beliefs may have contributed to their attitudes and practices regarding whether to assist their patients to access such services, despite it being legal.Contribution: This study provides insight into the health worker barriers that impede TOP service provision and access in the CBD of eThekwini.

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来源期刊

South African Family Practice MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL-

CiteScore

1.50

自引率

20.00%

发文量

审稿时长

25 weeks

期刊介绍： South African Family Practice (SAFP) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, which strives to provide primary care physicians and researchers with a broad range of scholarly work in the disciplines of Family Medicine, Primary Health Care, Rural Medicine, District Health and other related fields. SAFP publishes original research, clinical reviews, and pertinent commentary that advance the knowledge base of these disciplines. The content of SAFP is designed to reflect and support further development of the broad basis of these disciplines through original research and critical review of evidence in important clinical areas; as well as to provide practitioners with continuing professional development material.