ABSTRACT
Although contraceptives are available free of charge throughout South Africa; the number of requests for termination of pregnancy (TOP) services continues to increase. This research investigated challenges preventing women from using contraceptives effectively. Structured interviews were conducted with 55 women who requested TOP services. As many as 85.5 of these women had used contraceptives. They discontinued using contraceptives when sideeffects occurred; necessitating them to request TOP services. Knowledge about; access to and the actual use of contraceptives did not enable these women to prevent unwanted pregnancies. More effective counseling about contrace- ptives' side-effects and enhanced accessibility of contraceptives over weekends and during lunch breaks could enable more women to prevent unwanted pregnancies; reducing the number of requests for TOP services
Subject(s)
Abortion , Abortion Applicants , Contraception Behavior , Contraceptive Agents , Pregnancy , WomenABSTRACT
This prospective hospital-based study was carried out to understand the characteristics of abortion care seekers in south-western Nigeria. Information was obtained from a total of 1876 women seeking abortion at hospitals using a questionnaire. The results show that majority (60 ) were between the ages of 15 and 24 years; of which adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years constituted 23.7 . Most (63.2 ) of the respondents were unmarried; but married women also constituted a significant proportion (30.2 ) of the abortion care seekers. Students were the single highest group; while the predominant economic activity was trading (26.7 ). Respondents terminated their pregnancies mainly because they were students or because they did not desire to have children. Most (35.5 ) of the women were introduced to providers by friends. Average contraceptive prevalence among the abortion care seekers was 27.4 . It is obvious from the results that young persons; especially in-school adolescents; should be targeted for comprehensive sexuality education especially in view of the current HIV/AIDS pandemic