Support for black adolescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy : a mental health perspective

M.Cur.South African women, including black adolescents, had wishes, hopes and expectations that the liberation of the abortion law would bring them a new lease on life. The promulgation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act, 92 of 1996, was viewed by most women, including black adolescents, as a means by which their wishes and expectations were going to be realised for the first time. Women were happy that they were going to terminate a pregnancy inside the country and under the supervision of a person whose identity will not be concealed from them. These women, including black adolescents, expected the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act 92 of 1996, was going to afford them an opportunity to express and share their feelings, without pretending to be emotionally strong. Since it is difficult to identify with certainty which women, who terminate their pregnancy, are being emotionally strong, the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act 92 of 1996 has made provision for counselling be afforded to all women. The counselling provided to women, including black adolescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy, was observed by the researcher to be more of a cognitive nature. It is focusing on orientating women towards what is to be expected from them during the procedure of termination of pregnancy. The researcher observed that the counselling is not focusing on the emotional aspect of these women. The researcher developed an interest to listen to the voices of the black adolescents, as part of the community of women who chose to terminate a pregnancy, to form a better understanding of their experiences so as to be able to mobilise resources in order to support them. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research study was conducted to identify the experiences of black adolescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy. Permission was obtained from gatekeepers. A pilot phenomenological interview was conducted with a black adolescent who chose to terminate a pregnancy and who met the selection criteria. The phenomenological interviews were conducted in English and Tswana with nine black adolescents that volunteered to participate in the study. Steps were taken to ensure trustworthiness. Tesch's Method of data-analysis was followed to analyse the data. The results indicated that black adotescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy, experienced emotional turmoil; physical distress; and used psychological defence mechanisms as a way to cope and some indicated that they experienced emotional maturity from the experience of terminating a pregnancy. From the findings of the research study in Phase 1 (one ) guidelines are described in phase two (2) for the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner to support black adolescents who chose to terminate a pregnancy. The possibility of applying the results of the research in nursing education, nursing research and nursing praFtice have been described. The black adolescents who choose to terminate their pregnancies need support from the advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner as well as from nurses engaged in the termination of pregnancies in different health facilities, in order to promote their mental health