Adolescent mothers’ utilization of contraceptive services in South Africa

Ehlers, V.J.

doi:10.1046/j.1466-7657.2003.00187.x

Cited by 19 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Overall, they reported that ECPs were not appropriate for women younger than 18 and admitted to denying young people access to EC. The studies from the Limpopo Province corroborate this finding and add that providers often impose age restrictions that prevent young women from accessing contraception methods 13,24 . The extent of this occurrence, however, is unknown; indeed, according to McFadyen et al 7 almost two thirds of providers felt that there was no minimum age for them to prescribe EC.…”

Section: Provider Attitudes To Ecmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…Indeed, most studies suggest that very few people have even heard of it [13][14][15] . A study of adolescent mothers in one South African province, for example, found that approximately one fifth knew about the existence of EC and that even fewer knew that ECPs could be taken to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse 13 .…”

Section: Awareness Of Emergency Contraceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study of adolescent mothers in South Africa revealed that only one had attempted to obtain EC; she was not successful because it was during a weekend when clinics are closed 13 . Participants in that study mentioned a number of reasons for not using EC.…”

Section: Reasons For Low Take-upmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Others still lacked information, believed that the pills were not effective, feared that they would commit a murder, or were confronted with resistance from their partners or mothers. One woman did not want the clinic staff to know about her sexual activities and as a result, did not request EC 13 .…”

Section: Reasons For Low Take-upmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Emergency contraception in South Africa: A literature review

Maharaj

Rogan

2008

The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health

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Section: Provider Attitudes To Ecmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Awareness Of Emergency Contraceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Reasons For Low Take-upmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Reasons For Low Take-upmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Emergency contraception in South Africa: A literature review

Maharaj

Rogan

2008

The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health

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“…Increasing evidence suggests that it is not simply lack of knowledge that results in underutilisation of EC but also the attitudes of health providers and their reluctance to provide it 6 7. A study of adolescent mothers in South Africa found that the attitudes of providers play a critical role in facilitating access to EC 12. Provider knowledge and acceptance of EC constitute a crucial link to improving access to women who need it 12 13.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Missing opportunities for preventing unwanted pregnancy: a qualitative study of emergency contraception

Maharaj

Rogan

2011

J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care

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Background and methodology High levels of unplanned pregnancy among young people are a huge public health problem in South Africa. However, use of emergency contraception (EC) remains low. Studies suggest that providers constitute an important link to increasing access to EC use. The aim of the study was to provide greater insights into the attitudes of providers towards EC in order to better understand factors infl uencing uptake. The study drew upon 30 indepth interviews with providers at private and public health facilities in Durban, South Africa. Results The results of the study highlight several barriers to the provision of EC in both public and private health facilities. The cost of EC products in commercial pharmacies is likely to be a major barrier to use for many women. In addition, providers in both public and private facilities are often reluctant to provide EC over the counter because they feel that the use of EC is likely to discourage regular use of contraception and increase the risk of unprotected sexual intercourse and, as a result, contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. In addition, they reported that they do not have an opportunity to counsel women about EC because of time constraints. Providers in both the public and private sectors also demonstrated a level of uncertainty about the clinical effects of EC pills and on the regulations surrounding their provision. Discussion and conclusions Despite relatively progressive legislation on EC provision and the widespread availability of EC products in South Africa, providers in pharmacies, family planning clinics and public health clinics need more training on EC provision. Interventions should aim to educate health providers on both the clinical and social aspects of EC provision.

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Causes and consequences of teen childbearing: Evidence from a reproductive health intervention in South Africa

Branson

Byker

2018

Journal of Health Economics

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We use a natural experiment to estimate the causal impact of a public health intervention aimed at reducing teenage childbearing. The geographic and timing variation in the rollout of the South African National Adolescent Friendly Clinic Initiative (NAFCI) in the early 2000s provides a plausibly exogenous increase in reproductive health knowledge and clinical access for teens. We investigate the causal pathway from the intervention's initial impact on early-teen childbearing to subsequent consequences for later-life outcomes of prime policy interest - education, employment and child health. Our empirical strategy uses GPS data from the National Income Dynamics Study to geolink women's location of residence during adolescence to the location and timing of the rollout. Our results show that living near a NAFCI clinic during adolescence delayed childbearing, substantially lowering the likelihood of early teen childbearing. We estimate that adolescents who had access to NAFCI completed more years of schooling and, consistent with increased human capital investments, earn substantially higher wages as young adults. Finally, children born to women who had access to youth-friendly services as teens show substantial health advantages, indicating a strong intergenerational benefit of delaying early teen childbearing in a developing country context.

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Adolescent mothers’ utilization of contraceptive services in South Africa

Abstract: Young mothers require more knowledge to enable them to make better informed decisions, and the services need to become more readily accessible and user friendly to adolescents. Reproductive health services provided specifically to adolescents could enhance the utilization of such services.

Cited by 19 publications

References 6 publications

Emergency contraception in South Africa: A literature review

Emergency contraception in South Africa: A literature review

Missing opportunities for preventing unwanted pregnancy: a qualitative study of emergency contraception

Causes and consequences of teen childbearing: Evidence from a reproductive health intervention in South Africa

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