ABSTRACT:
A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using three focus group discussions (FGDs) with 23 AGYW aged 15–24 years in Gugulethu and Khayelitsha. FGDs were conducted in English and isiXhosa by a trained research assistant. Data were analysed using thematic analysis guided by Braun and Clarke’s six-phase methodology and an adapted Information–Motivation–Behavioral Skills (IMB) Model. AGYW accessed abortion-related information through multiple sources. Comprehensive sexuality education delivered through the Life Orientation curriculum was the dominant source, while healthcare workers were the most trusted due to their expertise. However, stigma and negative experiences with healthcare workers acted as deterrents. Less trusted sources, including peers, social media, and street posters, were used to access information about informal and unsafe abortions. Parents, although not considered trusted information sources, played a significant role as people who influence decision-making (PWIDs), often shaping perceptions and experiences of abortion more than personal or social motivation. Although AGYW initially expressed strong positive or negative views, they demonstrated ambivalence toward abortion, particularly in cases of rape. Stigma was perceived as unavoidable and extending beyond the individual to their parents. AGYW viewed themselves as exceptional in their use of information compared to peers. Contextual factors, including financial constraints, stigma, and high levels of sexual violence, shaped decision-making, showing that information and motivation alone are insufficient. Safe access to abortion for AGYW in South African townships is shaped by how information is accessed, how interactions with information sources influence motivation, and by broader contextual factors, highlighting that interventions must address social and structural constraints as well as information and motivation.