Pregnancy

A Review of Teenage Pregnancy in South Africa – Experiences of Schooling, and Knowledge and Access to Sexual & Reproductive Health Services

Published by: 
Other/ unknown/ unpublished

Approximately 30% of teenagers in South Africa report ‘ever having been pregnant’, the majority, unplanned. While this number has decreased over the past few decades, it is still unacceptably high. The figure is for all teenagers. (13-19 years old), but motherhood for an 18 or 19 year old has very different implications than for a young teenager, one aged 15, for example. Therefore this report tries, where possible, to be mindful of differing experiences of pregnancy and motherhood across the teen years.

Urgent Delivery Maternal Death: The Avoidable Crisis

Published by: 
Medicins Sans Frontieres

Every day, approximately 1000 women die in childbirth or from a pregnancy-related complication.1 Maternal death can occur at any time in pregnancy, but delivery is by far the most dangerous time for both the mother and the baby. The vast majority of these deaths can be prevented if access to emergency obstetric care is ensured.

Experience shows us that at least 15 percent of all pregnant women worldwide encounter a life-threatening complication. In a conflict or a crisis, pregnant women are even more vulnerable because health services have collapsed, are inadequate or non-existent. But these women need access to quality emergency obstetric care whether they live in a conflict zone, in a refugee camp or under plastic sheeting after a devastating earthquake.

Medical abortion

Series Name: 
Nursing Update
Published by: 
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

South Africa currently only provides for medical abortion in the private sector – however, the National Department of Health is finalising guidelines for implementation in the public sector. Given the demand for abortion services by women, the limited accessibility of surgical abortion there is a need to make medical abortion services available. This should address illegalmedical abortion providers currently advertising on lamppostsin public areas and the concerning maternal mortality rates.

Adolescent sexual and reproductive care

Series Name: 
Nursing Update
Published by: 
Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

Marion Stevens, treatment monitor with the Health Systems Trust, reflects on adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare during Youth Month.

With June being Youth Month, it's important to consider and reflect on the area of adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare. This is an area that is often ignored as we grapple with the reality that adolescents are choosing tobe sexually active, but cultural practices often limit open communication about sex with our cllildren. As nurses we have a responsibility to provide care of adolescents' sexual health, which also includes the results of unplanned pregnancies,abortion, spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and maternal mortality and morbidity.

How far are we? Assessing the implementation of abortion services: A review of literature and work-in-progress

Published by: 
Health Systems Trust
This is the first review conducted in South Africa on research addressing the implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act. A systematic and detailed methodology was undertaken to identify published and on-going research. Of the 86 identified studies, 41 were reviewed, 13 were forthcoming studies, three were published but unavailable, 6 focused on the process of advocacy reform and 23 were excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. A framework developed for the review looked service and community factors affecting access of potential and current abortion service users.