Abstract

SEBOLA, Botshelo R.  and  RISENGA, Patrone R.. The support group impact on enhancing the self-worth of women who terminated a pregnancy in adolescence. SAFP [online]. 2023, vol.65, n.1, pp.1-10. ISSN 2078-6204.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/safp.v65i1.5707.

BACKGROUND: Terminating a pregnancy can be a traumatic life event, resulting in negative emotions that can diminish women's self-worth. Support from different sources, including health support groups, could be beneficial in restoring a woman's self-worth. This article aimed to present findings on the impact of a support group intervention on the self-worth of women who terminated a pregnancy in adolescence METHODS: A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews, was used to collect data. Thematic analysis guided the data analysis RESULTS: Five themes emerged from the data: reasons for joining the support group; enhanced emotional and physical wellbeing; self-forgiveness; spiritual growth and participants' voices CONCLUSION: Participants described why they needed to join the support group. It became clear that the intercession was effective in the short term as it enhanced participants' self-worth by encouraging them to accept themselves thereby altering their self-condemning emotions, replacing them with self-love CONTRIBUTION: The study recommends that a support group should be considered as a backup for women who terminated a pregnancy and have lost their self-worth

Keywords : adolescence; enhancement; self-forgiveness; self-worth; termination of pregnancy; women.

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