BackgroundMale partners have a strong influence on pregnant partners’ health and their access to care. Their involvement is critical in the delivery and uptake of maternal healthcare services and improving maternal and child health outcomes.AimThe study sought to determine male partners’ views on their involvement in maternal healthcare services.SettingThe Makhado Municipality’s Kutama, Madombidzha and Vleifontein clinics.MethodsA qualitative study design, which is exploratory, descriptive and contextual in nature, was used. The population comprised 15 men whose partners had been pregnant within the last 2 years. A non-probability, purposive sampling procedure was used. Data were collected via in-depth individual interviews using a voice recorder and an interview schedule guide. Tesch’s open coding method was used to analyse data.ResultsThe findings revealed one major theme, namely that maternal health issues are viewed as a woman’sdomain; and three sub-themes: culture and participation in childbirth, male partners’ employment status, and male partners’ unwillingness to participate in maternal health issues.ConclusionsThe involvement of male partners in maternal healthcare services, and further research in promoting this activity, should be proposedto policymakers.

BackgroundTeenage pregnancy is a global social health concern especially because of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, sexually transmitted infections, high rate of termination of pregnancy (TOP), adolescents’ parenthood and decreased level of contraceptives.AimTo explore the views of teenagers on the TOP at Muyexe high school in a rural village of Mopani District, Limpopo Province.SettingMuyexe high school in a rural village of Mopani District, Limpopo Province, in South Africa.MethodologyA qualitative method using explorative and descriptive designs was used to find in-depth description and understanding of teenagers’ views on TOP. The target population was girls aged 15–19 years at Muyexe high school in Mopani District. Non-probability, convenient sampling was used to select high school teenage girls who had undergone TOP for the study. Data were collected using individual self-report technique (interview). Tesch’s eight steps of qualitative data analysis were used. Measures to ensure trustworthiness and ethical considerations were observed.ResultsTwo major themes were revealed: (1) Views of teenagers regarding TOP (poverty, relationship problems and single parenthood, negative impact on the teen’s life while attending school) and (2) teenager’s fears regarding pregnancy (stigma, fear of parents and friends, rape and incest and fear of giving birth).ConclusionMajority of participants had knowledge about TOP; some had experiences about TOP while others held inadequate knowledge. Recommendations were based on the findings by teaching dangers of TOP and various contraceptive methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies and TOP.

Background: Globally the burden of tuberculosis or human immunodeficiency virus (TB/HIV) is at 24% with 3% global health workforce and this an alarming rate that World Health Organization (WHO) declared African region as a critical workforce shortage area. To facilitate adherence to treatment guidelines, WHO recommended a strategy of task shifting for these countries with high health workforce shortages. The strategy aimed at the redistribution of health care tasks to available workers. The purpose of the study was to determine factors facilitating trained nurse-initiated management of antiretroviral therapy (NIMART) nurses’ adherence to TB/HIV treatment guidelines in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and North West (NW) Provinces of South Africa.Design: The study was qualitative, explorative and descriptive in nature. The population comprised of 24 participants who were purposively selected. The in-depth focus group discussion was conducted. Data analysis was through the used of ATLAS T.I. software program (version 7.0) and followed the basic steps of notice-collect-think (NCT) analysis. Trustworthiness and ethical consideration were ensured.Results: The following one theme namely; marked identified needs to be met to promote adherence to treatment guidelines and sub-themes emerged from raw data: Expected positive attitudinal needs outlined and an outline of a positive behavioural change. Conclusion: Factors such as continuous training, support supervision and improved relationships with colleagues need to be enhanced to enable NIMART nurses to adhere to treatment guideline.

BackgroundSexual and reproductive decision-making has emerged as an important health indicator in family reproductive health issues. While there is evidence of male dominance in sexual and reproductive health decisions, the role of socio-demographic factors on women’s decision to use contraception is not well understood.AimThis study aimed at exploring the socio-demographic factors associated with married women’s decision-making to use contraception.SettingThe study was conducted in Mahikeng local municipality in the Modiri Molema District Municipality.MethodsData were generated in Mahikeng from married and cohabiting women, aged 18–49 years, from a survey comprising 568 participants. Data were collected on women’s demographic characteristics and contraceptive behaviour. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine factors related to decision-making on contraceptive use.ResultsThe result revealed that 57% of the participants were currently using contraception and 45% stated jointly-made decision regarding the use of contraception. Decisions on use of contraceptives were associated with education, occupation, religion, duration of union and home language. Other factors associated with decision-making on contraceptive use were perception on husband’s right to sex, use of force for sex and spousal communication about sex.ConclusionEmpowering women to use contraception to meet their fertility desire should aim at improving their socio-economic status and spousal communication. Family planning providers should recognise socio-cultural barriers under which the relationships exist and how women can navigate these contextual factors.

No abstract available.