Background: Across the globe a large proportion of pregnancies have been reported as unintended. There are no available reports from South Africa concerning the prevalence of unintended pregnancies. This study explored the prevalence of unintended pregnancies among South African women attending a public primary health care (PHC) clinic in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. It also investigated the relationship between demographic factors, contraceptive use, substance abuse and unintended pregnancy in this setting. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients (n = 328) attending a PHC clinic. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Women who attended the clinic on their first antenatal visit were invited to participate. Participants filled out questionnaires in either English or isiZulu. Association between pregnancy and categorical variables was assessed. Results: Participants were mostly single (89.9%; n = 267), unemployed (70.8%; n = 222) with a monthly income of less than R 1 500 per month (63.8%; n = 81). Two-thirds of the women (64.33%; n = 211) had unintended pregnancies. There was a significant relationship between marital status and unintended pregnancy. Women who were married or living with their partners were more likely to have planned their pregnancies as compared with those who were single or divorced. Unemployed women were more likely to have had unintended pregnancies. No other socio-demographic factors were linked to unintended pregnancy. Conclusion: It is concluded that in this population of South African women with low education levels and low income, the prevalence of unintended pregnancies is high. These unintended pregnancies are linked to single status as well as unemployment.
Background: Across the globe a large proportion of pregnancies have been reported as unintended. There are no available reports from South Africa concerning the prevalence of unintended pregnancies. This study explored the prevalence of unintended pregnancies among South African women attending a public primary health care (PHC) clinic in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. It also investigated the relationship between demographic factors, contraceptive use, substance abuse and unintended pregnancy in this setting.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients (n = 328) attending a PHC clinic. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Women who attended the clinic on their first antenatal visit were invited to participate. Participants filled out questionnaires in either English or isiZulu. Association between pregnancy and categorical variables was assessed.Results: Participants were mostly single (89.9%; n = 267), unemployed (70.8%; n = 222) with a monthly income of less than R 1 500 per month (63.8%; n = 81). Two-thirds of the women (64.33%; n = 211) had unintended pregnancies. There was a significant relationship between marital status and unintended pregnancy. Women who were married or living with their partners were more likely to have planned their pregnancies as compared with those who were single or divorced. Unemployed women were more likely to have had unintended pregnancies. No other socio-demographic factors were linked to unintended pregnancy.Conclusion: It is concluded that in this population of South African women with low education levels and low income, the prevalence of unintended pregnancies is high. These unintended pregnancies are linked to single status as well as unemployment.
BackgroundBased on the increased pre-eclampsia and HIV antenatal incidence in South Africa, we determined the angiogenic profiles due to its mechanistic link in preeclampsia development, throughout uncomplicated pregnancies in HIV positive and negative women.ObjectiveTo determine the angiogenic profiles throughout uncomplicated pregnancies in HIV positive and HIV negative women. We explored possible correlations between angiogenic serum levels and selected maternal characteristics (HIV status, gestational age, maternal factors, and pregnancy outcomes).MethodThis study was conducted at a primary health care facility in Durban, South Africa. Forty-six pregnant women aged 18–45 years, were enrolled at 10–20, 22–30 and 32–38 weeks' gestation, respectively through convenient sampling. Serum samples were collected and quantitatively evaluated using ELISAs. Clinical and epidemiological data were analysed using STATA (version 14). A probability level of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsOf those enrolled, 28.3% were nulliparous, 82% were HIV positive and none developed pre-eclampsia. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased slightly throughout pregnancy. Fluctuating angiogenic and anti-angiogenic levels were demonstrated during pregnancy.ConclusionThis study contributes to the current angiogenic knowledge in normotensive pregnancies, and may assist as a reference range against which these factors may be compared in HIV complicated pregnancies.
Background: The medical aesthetics industry is a very profitable and rapidly growing branch of medicine. Currently, somatologists or beauty therapists who either independently perform or assist medical directors in these aesthetic procedures, are not regulated by a professional body in most countries including South Africa. The absence of a prescribed scope of practice, attributed to absence of formal professional regulation, has resulted in an increase in anecdotal reports of complications and malpractice being referred to medical professionals. Since the mandate of regulatory bodies is to guide the professions and to protect patients and the public, currently, the absence of regulation in the somatology profession exposes patients/clients to unsafe practices predominately in the private sector. The objective of this scoping review is to map evidence on the somatology practices and regulations for non-medical aesthetic treatments. Methods: We will conduct a scoping review using peer reviewed journal articles that present literature on the practice of non-medical aesthetic treatments. Grey literature including media reports, and unpublished theses will be included. Electronic searches of databases and search engines such as Scopus, CINAHL, EBSCOhost, Health Source - Consumer Edition; Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Open Dissertations, Google Scholar and MEDLINE will be undertaken to attain published articles and reports from all study designs. Duplicated documents will be deleted prior to title screening commencing. All retrieved literature will be exported into an Endnote X20 library. The quality of each publication will be appraised using the mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT) – version 2018.Discussion: We will map the evidence of how non-medical treatments are commonly being performed by non-physicians and somatologists, including identifying which treatments and procedures are more at risk in resulting in adverse reactions if not administered ethically or correctly. Once summarised, the data could be used to develop relevant and current good practice guidelines that could be later integrated into a framework for somatologists performing non-medical aesthetics treatments in South Africa. Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework registration (https://osf.io/4fk8g/)
The strong desire to experience motherhood, mediated by prevailing social and cultural norms encourage childbearing in society. Contraceptive use and pregnancy among HIV positive women in South Africa is of growing concern as it may be associated with various adverse factors having socio-economic and health impacts. The timeous initiation and optimal utilisation of antenatal care services is imperative to ensure positive pregnancy outcomes and good maternal health; not always possible due to various challenges in developing countries. Motherhood is a component of a women's identity in cultural societies and important for female social status. Major challenges are gender-based violence and gender inequality as well as physiological factors that place women at risk like cultural and behavioural practices requiring parental consent for access to reproductive and sexual health services tend to discourage girls and women in their pursuit for decision making in reproductive health. This study examines the societal influences on contraceptive usage amongst women attending an antenatal clinic, their contraceptive use and HIV status in the city of Durban, province KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a Primary Health Care (PHC) facility with a total of 283 pregnant women in trimester one visiting the antenatal clinic for the first time who completed a self-administered questionnaire. Results evidenced that almost 70% of the study population are aware of their HIV status prior to conceiving. Contraceptive usage in HIV positive participants was similar 82 (81%) to 97 (75%) in HIV negative participants. The HIV positive participants were aware of the consequences of non-contraceptive use. HIV positive women were not deterred by the desire to use contraception nor conceive (OR: 1.04, CI: 0.61 -1.79). The study reports a high number of the women are single (>75%), low level of education (90%), unemployed (>70%). HIV status has no impact on contraceptive use and the prevalence of pregnancy among HIV positive women. The number of miscarriages (11%) and early neonatal deaths (6%) reported appeared higher in HIV positive women. Smoking (>50%) and alcohol consumption (>50%) were equally high amongst the pregnant women. Comprehensive programs for planned pregnancies in HIV positive women is necessary for a paradigm shift in the prevailing social and cultural norms worldwide. Reproductive health education extending to embrace the boys and men in the population will increase the importance and acceptance of contraception usage for both HIV positive and negative women in reproductive health care.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.