South African Doctors Refuse to Perform Abortions Despite Advocacy Efforts

Abortion has been legal in South Africa since the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act passed in 1996. In spite of this, only 7% of pregnancy clinics in the country will perform abortions. On top of this, very few doctors at the 93% of clinics that don't perform abortions are willing to refer patients to clinics that will.

Pregnancy clinics and individual doctors most often refuse to perform abortion procedures due to religious beliefs, which is entirely legal. Polling shows that the culture in South Africa tends to share those beliefs. Religious organizations are working to provide women in need with alternatives to abortion, and the country as a whole serves as an example that it is possible to win the culture war. Click here for more.