Abortion in South Africa: The Consequences of Conscientious Objection

This article sheds light on the increasing rate of conscientious objection in the
healthcare sector. As many international actors suggest, safe abortion guarantees a
more comprehensive protection of women’s sexual and reproductive rights. In this
context, the refusal demonstrated by the health care workers prevents the benefits
correlated with the legalization of abortion from being realized, especially in the
developing countries. More specifically, this article investigates the role of conscientious
objection among the health personnel in South Africa. As supported by the literature,
the abortion reform in South Africa has been highly progressive. However, this
legislation has now been facing a number of legal challenges.