Unplanned teenage pregnancy constitutes an important health problem, whilst contraceptive services are free throughout South Africa and the number of Termination of Pregnancy (TOP) services is increasing. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of secondary school girls towards contraception in Thulamela Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A quantitative descriptive study design was used and respondents were selected by convenience sampling from a population of secondary school girls, the sample consisting of 273 girls in Grades 10-12. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data and analysed by computing frequencies and percentages using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings showed that respondents were aware of different contraceptive methods that can prevent pregnancy. However, most did not have knowledge of the emergency contraceptive, intra-uterine device and female condom. Pressure from male partners, fear of parental reaction to the use of contraceptives, reluctance to use contraceptives, poor contraceptive education and lack of counselling were seen as the main causes of ineffective contraceptive use and non-utilisation. Possible modalities of intervention deal with providing contraceptive counselling and care to empower these school girls to make informed choices on reproductive health.

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The purpose of this quantitative exploratory descriptive survey was to determine which problems pregnant student nurses experienced in the Northern Province (NP) of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Questionnaires were completed by 93 pregnant student nurses in this province, indicating that the majority of them became pregnant because they lacked knowledge about contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and termination of pregnancy (TOP) services (legalized in the RSA since 1996). They delayed seeking prenatal care and experienced tiredness, dizziness, and vaginal bleeding during the first trimester. Most pregnant student nurses encountered academic problems as a result of their pregnancies. These and other results indicate a dire need to educate the student nurses about contraceptives and about accessing reproductive health care services. If the students do not utilize the available services themselves, it is unlikely that they will advise their clients to utilize such services.

Background: State patients are admitted to a psychiatric hospital after being declared as such by the magistrate courts as a result of not found fit to stand trial for the offence they had committed. After successful rehabilitation of state patients at the psychiatric hospital, they need to be re-integrated into their families. Family members’ perceptions regarding re-integration of male state patients are not largely explored in the scientific body of knowledge.Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions of family members regarding reintegration of male state patients into their families.Setting: This study was conducted in Vhembe District of Limpopo province, South Africa.Method: A qualitative approach using explorative, descriptive and contextual designs was adopted. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 family members who were purposefully sampled, and data were thematically analysed using Tech Open Coding method.Results: Three themes emerged, namely, family members understand re-integration; family members’ expectations from a mental healthcare user; and threat to re-integration as perceived by family members.Conclusion: Data revealed that family members have varied perceptions regarding re-integration. These perceptions were based on the behaviour displayed or an offence committed by the mental healthcare user before admission and how participants experienced it. The study recommends that an investigation is to be conducted on the kind of support family members need regarding re-integration of state patients into their families.

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