M.Cur. (Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing) / The formulation of standards for accompanying the client during pregnancy are proposed in an attempt to improve the midwifery services provided to the community. The need for accompaniment during pregnancy is seen in the greater demand for information and support during pregnancy and the puerperium. As a result of the phasing out of the extended family and the limited information and support the family receives during the pregnancy year, the professional is pressurized for formal and informal antenatal accompaniment. Standards are formulated as an attempt to provide optimal care to the pregnant family.

M.Cur. / The standard of care in midwifery services improves all the time. Because of this reason mothers are experiencing more of midwifery services and also of antenatal preparation services. This can be seen in the increasing demand for active birth, plychoprophlaxis and preparation for delivery. The higher the standard of antenatal preparation, the more positive the influence on the birthing process. Because of the isolation of the nuclear family from the traditional family and its recourcee, more pressure is put on professional people and other recources for formal antenatal preparation programs. Standards are therefore essential for effective antenatal preparation to ensure optimal care.

M.Cur. / Poor quality of midwifery care has been of major concern at St. Elizabeth's antenatal clinic in Eastern Cape. This has been attributed to a number of reasons which one of them is the high maternal mortality rate at St. Elizabeth's hospital. The research question has been, "Do midwives provide quality care to pregnant women at St. Elizabeth's antenatal clinic?" The question has been answered by auditing antenatal records, retrospectively of all the women who have been attending St. Elizabeth's antenatal clinic. Data was collected by means of the Phaneuf audit tool. Twenty antenatal records of women who have been attending antenatal clinic at St. Elizabeth's hospital were selected randomnly. Data analysis was presented in a descriptive way. From the findings, factors that contribute to poor quality care were identified. Beca se of the presence of more negative factors that contribute to poor quality care, the conclusion was that, midwives provide substandard care at St. Elizabeth's antenatal clinic. Recommendations for nursing education, nursing practice and recommendations for further research were outlined. Validity and reliability has been mantained throughout the study. Ethical standards, as stipulated by DENOSA have been considered in the whole chapter

D.Cur. / Every woman and unborn child has the right to quality antenatal care. Concern is expressed regarding the quality_ of antenatal care currently delivered in South Africa, but due to a lack of formal written standards for antenatal care, this concern cannot be addressed. In view of this, the aim of this study was to generate valid standards for antenatal care. A contextual, exploratory and descriptive research design had been used to complete the research in two phases. An extensive literature exploration was done during the first phase (Development phases 1 and 2) in order to describe a conceptual framework for antenatal care. Concept standards were formulated within this framework and refined with the assistance of a small group of experts. Following changes made to it, it was prepared for validation. The content validity of the standards was tested at national level (validation phase). The concept standards were sent to a group of domain experts in the form of a questionnaire. A purposive, non-randomised and stratified sample had been drawn. The participants were expected to evaluate the content validity of the standards and accompanying criteria and to propose amendments should they deem it to be necessary. A content validity index was calculated for each standard and criterion. A mean of 3,5 and a standard deviation of. 1,0 were regarded as sufficient proof of the content validity of each item. Thereafter, the standards were tested in the clinical practice on the basis of three case studies. Following the necessary adjustment and reformulation, the final standards were formulated. This research does not only make a valuable contribution towards the midwife's practice in the-form of valid standards for antenatal care, but also contributes towards extension of the theoretical basis of the subject discipline by means of the comprehensive description of a conceptual framework for antenatal care by the midwife.

Adolescent pregnancies are high risks obstetric occurrences. Antenatal care (ANC) provides opportunities to recognise and treat obstetric complications, enhancing the pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies. This study investigated factors influencing pregnant adolescents' utilisation of ANC services in Bulawayo, using the Health Belief Model's major tenets. A quantitative descriptive design was used in four phases: 80 adolescents' ANC records were audited; structured interviews were conducted with 200 adolescents attending ANC and with 80 adolescents who had delivered their babies without attending ANC; and 52 midwives completed questionnaires portraying their perceptions on adolescents' utilisation of ANC services in Bulawayo. Documentation of ANC services provided to adolescents did not meet the expected standards. Poor or non utilisation of ANC services was influenced by socio demographic factors, individual perceptions of adolescents about antenatal care, perceived benefits of and perceived barriers to the utilisation of ANC. Most pregnant adolescents could not access these services because they could not pay the ANC and/or delivery fees charged at government clinics/hospitals. Midwives required more training in providing and recording adequate ANC services. Free ANC and delivery services could enhance adolescents' pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabawe. An information brochure on the importance of ANC attendance for adolescents has been compiled, based on the research results (see Annexure J). / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Adolescent pregnancies are high risks obstetric occurrences. Antenatal care (ANC) provides opportunities to recognise and treat obstetric complications, enhancing the pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies. This study investigated factors influencing pregnant adolescents' utilisation of ANC services in Bulawayo, using the Health Belief Model's major tenets. A quantitative descriptive design was used in four phases: 80 adolescents' ANC records were audited; structured interviews were conducted with 200 adolescents attending ANC and with 80 adolescents who had delivered their babies without attending ANC; and 52 midwives completed questionnaires portraying their perceptions on adolescents' utilisation of ANC services in Bulawayo. Documentation of ANC services provided to adolescents did not meet the expected standards. Poor or non utilisation of ANC services was influenced by socio demographic factors, individual perceptions of adolescents about antenatal care, perceived benefits of and perceived barriers to the utilisation of ANC. Most pregnant adolescents could not access these services because they could not pay the ANC and/or delivery fees charged at government clinics/hospitals. Midwives required more training in providing and recording adequate ANC services. Free ANC and delivery services could enhance adolescents' pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabawe. An information brochure on the importance of ANC attendance for adolescents has been compiled, based on the research results (see Annexure J). / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)