This study explores sociocultural and other risk factors associated with unplanned teenage pregnancy in Zomba district of Malawi. Data were obtained from 505 participants under the age of 20 years using a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews held at five antenatal clinics. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, frequency tables and chi-square analysis which allowed comparative understanding of the sociocultural risk factors for planned and unplanned teenage pregnancy in Zomba district. The findings revealed that teenage pregnancy is a major health and social problem. Over 76% of the teenage respondents in the study had experienced unplanned pregnancy. Among the prominent factors that stood out in the analysis for this high rate of teenage pregnancy were early sex and marriage, low contraceptive use, low educational levels, low socio-economic status, lack of knowledge of reproductive and sexual health, gender inequity, and physical/sexual violence. The consequences on teenage mothers of unplanned pregnancy have been tragic and have compromised their physical, psychological and socioeconomic wellbeing, not just on them but also their families and society at large. The findings point to the need for a multi-sectoral approach to tackle the problem on teenage pregnancy in this district, and likely throughout Malawi.

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Background:Supervised clinical practice plays a significant role in the nursing profession, as it has an influence on the students’ clinical learning.Objectives:The aim of this study was to explore how the pre-registration nursing students find their experience on clinical supervision in the clinical placements.Methods:The study used both quantitative and qualitative approach to collect data through focus groups (n = 144) and self-administered questionnaires (n = 590) from nursing students of various programmes in selected colleges in Malawi.Results:About 75% (n = 443) of the participants indicated that they received supervision from both clinical staff and Nurse Educator. However, qualitative results indicated that students received inadequate clinical supervision. Themes that emerged from the discussion included lack of human resources, learning support, availability of instructors yet not supporting learning, job insecurity and lack of remuneration as reasons for lack of supervision, role models and student guidance despite pressure and self-directed.Conclusion:There is a need for clear policies regarding clinical supervision as well as a structured and well monitored process.

Socio-demographic factors, ethnicity, beliefs, practices, attitude of students, friends, parents and villagers were the potential explanatory variables in univariate and multivariate analyses. Out of a sample of 98 medical students, only 15% indicated willingness to refer parents and friends to traditional healers. Gender, age, religion, province and district did not influence the referral intention. Positive attitude of friends (p=0.031), of villagers (p=0.047), of students (p=0.004), on consulting traditional healers (p<0.001) and beliefs of students in Traditional Medicine (TM) (p=0.002) were the significant correlates of referral intention. However, after adjusting for confounding factors, only positive attitude of medical students to TM was found to be the significant and independent determinant of referral intention to traditional healers. The data lead to the conclusion that referral intention to TH and TM was very low among medical students. Therefore, intervention for integrative medicine should begin with medical students to develop a positive attitude towards TM, the important and significant determinant of referral intention to TH/TM. If doctors recognize the effectiveness of CAM in the management of some illnesses, the current gap between both medical approaches will get narrowed.