The abortion debate in South Africa.

Before 1975 abortion was illegal in South Africa unless the life of the mother was at risk. The Abortion and Sterilization Act (ASA) of 1975 broadened the scope of legal abortion. The act allows abortion to save the life of the mother in cases of severe fetal deformity in cases or rape or incest or if the woman is mentally incompetent. The procedure to get the abortion includes finding a doctor to recommend the procedure then finding 2 other doctors to claim in good faith that abortion is indicated. At least 1 of these doctors must have been practicing for 4 years and neither can participate in the procedure. The operation must take place in a state controlled institution or an institution specifically designed for abortion. This law is currently not serving the needs of the women of South Africa even among the women who are legally entitled to have an abortion. Annually only 40% of those that apply for abortion are approved and over 70% of the approved procedures are performed on psychological grounds. It is estimated that there are 200000-300000 illegal abortions every year. At Baragwanath there are 15000 patients admitted for infection related to abortion every year. The ASA has failed to stop illegal abortion and failed to meet the needs of society. The abortion law should be liberalized for a variety of reasons. Women do not have adequate access to contraceptives in South Africa. This results in the birth of many unwanted children which are more likely to be abused and abandoned. Even if contraceptives were universally available they all have associated failure rates. Since it is assumed that a women using contraceptives does not want to become pregnant abortion needs to be available as a backup to contraceptives. Since South Africa is a patriarchal society women must be given control over their reproduction if they are to achieve equal status. Thus for the reasons of preventing unwanted and unwanted and abused children backing up contraceptives and helping emancipate women the abortion law needs to be liberalized.