17.11.97

Dear Doctor,

 Re: Survey of doctors attitudes towards the implimentation of  the choice of Termination of  Pregnancy Act 1996.(Cape Province only)

Shortly, you will be receiving a number of questionnaires each separate in its A4 size envelope containing:

1.     a questionnaire

2.     a covering letter explaining the survey.

3.     a self addressed  envelope.

Would you kindly distribute one envelope to every doctor  in  your institution who in the normal course of his or her duty would be responsible for seeing/ evaluating or managing abortion clients? 

·        Please inform each doctor that the return envelope does NOT require a stamp.

·        Please encourage full participation. If the number of returned questionnaires is too small then no scientific conclusion can be drawn from this study.

·        A second survey will not be logistically or statistically feasible.

·        We are relying on your generous cooperation.

The material should arrive within 2 weeks. If staff are on leave, kindly  ensure that each member will get one, (and no more than one), envelope on return.

Thank you for your cooperation,

 Dr.Harvey R.G.Ward
Clinical Assistant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Tygerberg Hospital

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
Tygerberg Hospital,
Bellville 7505.

Dear Colleague,

Study on Doctor’s attitudes to the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act 1996.

1.Since the Choice of Termination of Pregnancy Act of  1996 was implemented on February 1^st 1997, referral patterns suggest that many institutions designated by the Minister of Health for such purposes do not have doctors willing to provide the service, either totally or selectively according to their own convictions.

2.This survey is designed to determine to what extent objections to the implementation of the Act exist among the doctors currently expected by the Department of Health to offer this service in  Cape Provincial institutions.

3.You can be assured that the information gathered in this survey will guarantee the anonymity of  both yourself and your institution. 

4.In order to obtain as complete a response as possible, this survey may have 2 consecutive mailings. Each approximately 3 3 weeks apart. If you have already filled in a form and posted it, kindly ignore further mailings. Reminders will be faxed to you.  Please do not send more than one. You are kindly requested to carefully fill out this questionnaire and return it (in its addressed envelope) as soon as you can. 

5.     Please feel free to fill in any comments, in (Afrikaans, English or Xhosa) that you would like to make in the space provided or on the back of your questionnaire.

6.   The information gathered will form the basis of a presentation to the SASOG Congress in March 1998 on the State Doctors Attitudes to the implementation of the Choice of TOP Act by Dr.H.R.G.Ward and as part of the panel discussion. Your comments and suggestions may be included in subsequent recommendations to the Department of Health.  

Your assistance and cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Dr. Harvey R.G. Ward
Senior Registrar: Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Professor H.J.Odendaal
Head of Department.