Women still opt for unsafe abortions
- Wits University
A review of abortion-related morbidity in South Africa shows that unsafe methods continue despite progressive legislation - FALF research symposium.
An analysis of cases of women who presented with incomplete abortion at public hospitals, comparing the period between 1994, 2000 and 2018, suggests that women continue to make risky choices that may endanger their lives.
The Act on Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOP) of 1996 permits early and safe termination of a pregnancy within 12 weeks of pregnancy. Thereafter, termination may be granted under certain conditions.
Dr Daphney Nozizwe Conco, Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health at Wits, found that the incidence of incomplete abortion has remained constant since 1994 as well as after the Act was passed.
This suggests that in 2018 the number of women who did not have access to an abortion in formal health settings has not significantly changed since 1994.
“This is a disturbing picture signifying how we have failed women in South Africa by not affording them their rights,” says Conco.
Conco’s research interests cover a range of topics including epidemiology of incomplete abortion in South Africa, social determinants of health, among others.
In her 2018 study, she reviewed 913 medical records from a representative sample of 56 public hospitals in South Africa.
“Documented barriers to safe abortion included stigma, provider opposition, lack of trained providers and designated facilities – particularly outside urban areas – as well as women not knowing their rights,” says Conco.
Conco presented the findings at the third research symposium hosted by the Female Academic Leaders Fellowship (FALF) in October. The symposium showcases research by female academics enabled by the Fellowship since its inception in 2021.
FALF’s mission is to transform academia by investing in the professional development of female academic leaders who will transform the skewed knowledge production landscape in the country.
Featured research included presentations and posters from a range of disciplines.
[Watch] Dr Ida Risenga, a medicinal plant expert give an overview of how elevated carbon dioxide affects the medicinal and nutritional properties of Spekboom, an indigenous plant that grows abundantly in parts of the country.
Change without Change
An awards dinner to recognise the best papers and fellows who have played a significant role in driving the FALF’s mission and excellence followed the symposium.
Guest speaker Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa (USAf), delivered the keynote address, digging deep into the state of gender equality in 26 South African universities.
Applauding FALF, Matutu said the fellowship “directly responds to the Sustainable Development Goal 5 [Gender equality] and 10 [Reduced inequalities]. In addition, FALF responds indirectly to quality education and numerous others, depending on the areas of focus of the fellows.”
While noting progress in the sector, Matutu expressed concern about the finding of a research report titled, The state of transformation in South Africa’s public universities, published in 2023 by the Ministerial Oversight Committee on Transformation in the South African Public Universities.
“The report shows that half (of the institutions) are intellectually and programmatically engaged in transformation within a strong improvement culture. In the other half, the transformation project is contested (and contestable), typically resulting in a half-hearted conceptualisation of transformation and a culture of compliance likely to result in ‘change without change’.”
FALF is therefore necessary, and the culture of institutions will determine if there is real transformation. Read FALF’s Impact Study assessing the programme.
Matutu praised FALF for adopting an intersectional lens when it comes to developing interventions. She warned of the danger of using general terms when developing programmes and called for the disaggregation of data.
“Not all women are the same,” she said, and a blanket approach will not yield meaningful transformation.
New FALF Association Office Bearers and Awards
Sustainability and building strong ties that will enable FALF to continue its mission is crucial. Towards this, FALF announced the formation of the FALF Association, an alumni network of fellows, which will continue to champion the goals to increase the number of South African black and coloured female academic leaders and create a supportive environment.
The executive comprises Dr Dineo Tsabedze (President), Professor Mary Evans (Vice-President), Dr Ida Risenga (Secretary), Ms Jane Ndlovu (CA) (Treasurer), Dr Nomalanga Mashinini (Legal Advisor), all supported by a team of fellows.
The evening concluded with awards in the following categories: Research Excellence; Leadership; Social Responsibility; International Collaboration; Best Symposium Paper; Unpublished and Published Papers and the FALF Spirit Award. View the 2024 FALF award winners.
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