South African abortion attitudes from 2007-2016: the roles of religiosity and attitudes toward sexuality and gender equality

ABSTRACT

Abortion is legal in South Africa, but negative abortion attitudes remain common and are poorly understood. We used nationally representative South African Social Attitudes Survey data to analyze abortion attitudes in the case of fetal anomaly and in the case of poverty from 2007 to 2016 (n = 20,711; ages = 16+). We measured correlations between abortion attitudes and these important predictors: religiosity, attitudes about premarital sex, attitudes about preferential hiring and promotion of women, and attitudes toward family gender roles. Abortion acceptability for poverty increased over time (b = 0.05, p < .001), but not for fetal anomaly (b = ?0.008, p = .284). Highly religious South Africans reported lower abortion acceptability in both cases (Odds Ratio (OR)_anomaly = 0.85, p = .015; OR_poverty = 0.84, p = .02). Premarital sex acceptability strongly and positively predicted abortion acceptability (OR_anomaly = 2.63, p < .001; OR_poverty = 2.46, p < .001). Attitudes about preferential hiring and promotion of women were not associated with abortion attitudes, but favorable attitudes about working mothers were positively associated with abortion acceptability for fetal anomaly ((OR_anomaly = 1.09, p = .01; OR_poverty = 1.02, p = .641)). Results suggest negative abortion attitudes remain common in South Africa and are closely tied to religiosity, traditional ideologies about sexuality, and gender role expectations about motherhood.     

Assessment of sexual abuse and trauma: Clinical measures

Examined are several measures currently used in the assessment of child abuse, sexual abuse, and trauma. These measures include structured clinical interviews, self report measures, screening inventory, symptom checklist, and some measures that include decision making properties. Issues and implications for clinical practice are explored.     

Cerebral Emboli during Cardiac Surgery in Children

Background: Microemboli occur commonly during cardiac surgery in adults, and, when present, increase the risk of neuropsychological deficits. Their incidence and significance during correction of congenital heart disease is unknown. The authors hypothesized that microemboli would occur before bypass with right-to-left cardiac shunts and would also occur in large numbers when the aortic crossclamp was released in children during repair of congenital heart defects.

Methods: In 25 children studied with carotid artery Doppler, embolic signals were counted and timed in relation to 13 intraoperative events. Patients were classified as either at high risk (obligate right-to-left shunt or uncorrected transposition of the great arteries) or at low risk (net left-to-right shunt or simple obstructive lesions) for paradoxical (venous to arterial) emboli.

Results: The median number of emboli detected was 122 (range, 2-2,664). Forty-two percent of all emboli were detected within 3 min of release of the aortic crossclamp. The high-risk group had significantly more emboli (median, 66; range, 0-116) during the time interval before cardiopulmonary bypass than did the low-risk group (median, 8; range, 0-73), with P < 0.01. There was no significant difference between the high-and low-risk groups in the total number of emboli detected. There was no apparent association between number of emboli and gross neurologic deficits.     

The Solution Method: 2-year trends in Weight, Blood Pressure, Exercise, Depression, and Functioning of Adults trained in Development Skills

This study describes changes observed during a 2-year period in participants enrolled in The Solution Method, a developmental skills training program for adult weight management. This Intervention is the adult application of a model of treatment previously used only in the management of pediatric obesity (The Shapedown Program). Developmental skills training integrates understandings and methods from developmental, family systems, biomedical, genetic, and behavioral theories of the etiology of obesity. Twenty-two subjects (mean age=43.4±8.5 years and mean body mass index=33.1+5.3) completed a group intervention based on this method, which was conducted by a registered dietitian and a mental health professional. Questionnaire responses indicated the extent to which their weight was a medical and/ or psychosocial risk. Subjects attended 2-hour weekly sessions for an average of 18 weeks during which they were trained in six developmental skills: strong nurturing, effective limits, body pride, good health, balanced eating, and mastery living. Data, which were collected at the beginning of treatment and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, included weight, blood pressure, 7-day exercise recalls, and responses to depression and functioning (psychosocial, vocational, and economic) questionnaires. Participants’ weights decreased throughout the 2-year period of the study: mean weight change was −4.2 kg (3 months), −6.0 kg (6 months), −7.0 kg (12 months), and −7.9 kg (24 months). In addition, compared with baseline values, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, exercise, and depression improved throughout the study period. These improvements were statistically significant at 24 months for weight (p<.01), systolic blood pressure (p<.02), diastolic blood pressure (p<.001), and exercise (p<.001); the results were not statistically significant for depression. Most participants reported improvement in a broad range of aspects of functioning. We conclude that this application of developmental skills training for adult weight management may produce significant long-term beneficial effects. J Am Diet Assoc. 1997;97:1133–1138.     

Characteristics of children and their families at entry into foster care

This study provides an overview of children, their families, and their circumstances at the time that the child entered foster care in Israel. Data regarding a representative sample of 800 children were collected as part of the ongoing operation of a clinical information system set up for Israel's foster care service in 1988. Implications of our findings for interventions are discussed.     

Bridges and barriers to recovery: Clinical observations from an opiate recovery project

Clinical issues are described in opiate addicts attempting to taper off methadone maintenance, and techniques are suggested to help this patient population. The observations were generated in an experimental “Tapering Network” project, in which opiate addicts on methadone maintenance had the opportunity to receive individual and group counseling, relapse prevention training, self-help groups, and other services. Vignettes illustrate clinical problems with intimacy and social isolation, identity as a former addict, and a “post methadone syndrome” characterized by vulnerability, dramatic swings in mood, and disordered thinking for a period of up to six months after detoxification. To counteract these barriers to recovery, a program model is suggested that uses curricula available in the emerging literature on treatment of substance abuse. These techniques can provide bridges to recovery.