The communication and relationships of black South African young women terminating their pregnancies

Abstract

This article presents the findings of research undertaken to explore and describe the communication and relationships of Black South African young women terminating their pregnancies. Data were collected during individual narrative interviews with nineteen young women who presented themselves for abortions at two hospitals in the Port Elizabeth-Uitenhage area. The transcribed interviews were analysed through descriptive analysis. From the results, central themes were identified with regard to (1) the nature of communication, namely closed communication, focussed on procedure, absence of contact and determination, and (2) the nature of relationships, namely an inadequate parent-youth relationship and an inadequate relationship with partner. The people with whom young women terminating their pregnancies communicated, were also identified, namely their parents, partners, peers, grandmothers, other relatives and other parties. Recommendations were made to improve the quality of the communication and relationships of Black young women terminating their pregnancies. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.