Characteristics of women requesting legal termination of pregnancy in a district hospital in Hammanskraal, South Africa

Abstract

Introduction: Worldwide, the most commonly reported reason stated by women for undergoing a termination of pregnancy (TOP) is to postpone or stop childbearing. The second most common cited reason is socio-economic concerns, which include a disruption to education or employment, lack of support from the father, a desire to provide schooling for existing children, relationship conflict, poverty, unemployment or the inability to afford additional children. There are particular characteristics for women that are associated with their reasons for opting to have a TOP. Thus, this study sought to determine the characteristics of women seeking a TOP at Jubilee Hospital, Hammanskraal, South Africa.