Thesis (MPH)--University of Limpopo, 2010. / Background: Sexual health of young people is a matter of public health concern and Reproductive health occupies a central position in health and development. Unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among young women can be prevented through effective use of contraception. Unmet need for contraception in developing world and rates of unintended pregnancy among young women is high. Aim of the Study: To assess the level of awareness of contraceptives and utilization of family planning services among young women and barriers that hinders effective use of such services Methods: A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 360 female undergraduate students of the National University of Lesotho, Roma, Lesotho. A hand delivered self administered questionnaire was used to collect data with the help of four trained research assistants. Epi info version 3.5 was used for data entry and analysis. Results: Awareness of family planning is high among the participant (98.3%); Condom is the most commonly known and used family planning method. Level of sexual experience and Contraceptive prevalence is high. Married status is associated with current use, positive perception on health benefit while Formal teaching on family planning is associated with misconceptions. Conclusion: The level of awareness and Utilization of family planning services is high among female students of university of Lesotho. Access to services is good but there are misconceptions. There is the need to introduce family planning teaching that is based on accurate knowledge to school curriculum

No description available.

Title: Knowledge and willingness of nurses in the public primary health care setting of sub-district “F” in the Johannesburg metro district to promote the use of the female condom. Methods: A quantitative cross sectional descriptive survey was conducted in the public primary health care setting of sub-district “F” in the Johannesburg metro district, which included 16 primary health care clinics. Three hundred and ninety eight nurses participated in the study. Association between knowledge and willingness to promote use of female condom was investigated using Chi-Square test. Result: Seventy nine per cent of the participants had more knowledge on female condom use than the rest of the nurses. Fifty nine per cent of the participants were more willing to promote the use of the female condom. There was no statistically significant relationship between willingness to promote the use of female condom and knowledge on female condom use. (Chi-square with one degree of freedom =2.7243, p =0.099). However, those nurses who are more knowledgeable on the use of female condom are noted to be more willing to promote female condom use (though this may not have been statistically significant. Conclusion: The more knowledgeable group of participants in this study was determined to be high (80%). Fifty nine per cent of the participants were more willing to promote female condom use than the others. Being more knowledgable in the use of female condom did not positively predict willingness to promote female condom use.

Background Contraceptive prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa is low compared to other regions of the world. Despite this, some countries within the sub-Saharan African region, such as Malawi, have been identified as champions of contraceptive use within the region but still face many reproductive health challenges, such as a high total fertility rate of 5.7 births per woman (Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS), 2011). The purpose of the study is to examine the prevalence of the use of modern contraception given different dimensions of family structure and what significant relevance this may have in creating contextually appropriate family planning interventions. A literature search of studies on family structure in Africa shows little evidence of such a study in Malawi. Methodology The study was cross-sectional and made use of the 2010 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS). It focused on women of reproductive ages (15-49 years). A total of 12, 490 women made the sample of the study. In order to address the objectives, descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted to assess the levels and patterns of modern contraceptive use in Malawi. Lastly, binary logistic regression was carried out in order to test the association between different dimensions of family structure and modern contraceptive use. Results The study established that the prevalence of modern contraceptive use in women of reproductive age (15-49) in Malawi was estimated at 48%. The study showed that family structure did have an influence on modern contraceptive use. Specifically the likelihood of modern contraceptive use was higher among women with larger family sizes. The association between sex composition of children and modern contraceptives was also significant. Findings further showed that women in female-headed households were less likely to use modern contraceptives compared to women in male-headed households. Conclusion Family structure was found to have an influence on modern contraceptive use in Malawi. The study findings have implications towards achieving the reproductive goals of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (2011-2016) and the Malawi Health Sector Strategy Plan of (2011-2016) or future policies which have important reproductive health goals for women.

Background There is now global recognition of the reproductive health rights of all individuals, including people living with HIV (PLHIV). These include inter alia, decisions on the number, spacing and timing of their children. In light of limited information on the reproductive choices of PLHIV at primary health care (PHC) level, the aim of this research study was to develop new knowledge on the reproductive concerns and desires of PLHIV and to determine current services provided for HIV positive individuals in the Ekurhuleni district of Gauteng Province. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used to explore the reproductive choices and the factors influencing these choices among HIV positive patients in the Ekurhuleni district. During 2013, a random sample of HIV positive patients attending community health centres was selected. After informed consent was obtained, trained fieldworkers administered a structured questionnaire that elicited information on socio-demographics, reproductive choices, and knowledge on available reproductive services. Survey data were analysed using STATA version 13. Results The majority of survey participants (n=430) were female (70%) and unemployed (57 %). The mean age of participants was 36 years (SD 8.6): 40.8 years (SD 8.7) for men and 34.5 years (SD7.8) for women. The expressed desire for children was 46% (95% CI: 41.4 – 50.9). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, predictors of desire for children were: age less than 49, marriage or living together, and no biological children. The odds of wanting children was 51.5 [95% CI: 14.8–178.8] times higher for those without children, compared to those with two or more children, while for those less than 25 years, the odds of wanting children was 22.0 [95% CI: 1.9-254] compared to those older than 50 years. Conclusion PHC clinics and health care providers should be capacitated to address the reproductive health needs of PLHIV, and these needs should be reflected in provincial and national policies.

Thesis (MPH)--University of Limpopo, 2010. / Introduction The neglect of men with respect to their role in family planning has contributed to a situation in which men remained passive or non-participatory in reproductive health related studies and have generally not been included in most of research on family planning and use of modern contraceptives (Mbizvo & Basset, 1996). Family planning saves women’s and children’s lives and improves the quality of life. In addition, family planning reduces fertility and help to relieve the pressures that rapidly growing populations place on economic, social and natural resources. Men’s participation in family planning can improve women and children’s health. Men are heads of families and play dominant roles in decision making crucial to women’s lives and women’s reproductive health. Aim and the objectives of the study: The aim of the study was to identify and describe factors affecting the participation of men attending out - patient services at Qoaling Filter Clinic. Methods and materials: • Study design The study used a descriptive cross sectional design. The factors were identified, described and the differences between the factors and participation determined. • Study population The population for the study consisted of men between 18 and 50 years who attended out-patient services at Qoaling Filter Clinic. • Study setting The data was collected from Qoaling Filter Clinic which is situated the southern region of Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. It is a mini hospital. • Sampling and sample size A cluster sampling was used. The researcher developed a sampling frame. Men who met the inclusion criteria were selected randomly. The formula used to compute the sample size was n/ [(1-(n/population)]. The sample size was 94. Results The findings of this study indicated that men knew some of the family planning methods. There was no difference in participation of men in family planning between men with more or less knowledge. There was a relationship between age, residing area, knowledge and participation. The majority of men indicated that if they were given information and there were special clinics for men, family planning services utilization would increase and they can be more involved in family planning services and support their wives and partners. Conclusion Men’s knowledge on family planning can improve their participation in utilizing the services and supporting their partners. Through participation men can help slow the spread of HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and criminal abortions

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M.A.P.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-36).

Thesis (M.A.P.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-36).