The use, knowledge and attitudes regarding hormonal contraceptive products of female first-year students in a Faculty of Health Sciences

Background: Effective contraception plays a major role in the economic advancement of women. New hormonal products offer more effective solutions with fewer side effects. This study aimed to assess the use, knowledge and attitudes regarding hormonal contraception of female first-year students across various health profession courses. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted during August to October 2017 targeting all female first-year students of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State. Results: Self-administered anonymous questionnaires were completed by 261 students (response rate 81.6%). At the time of the study, 29.6% of the study population reported using hormonal contraceptive products; 51.7% of users cited acne as the indication. Among users of hormonal contraceptives, combined oral contraception was the most commonly used (86.0%), and was regarded as the most effective (33.2%). A third of the students (36.2%) were aware that some medication could influence the effectiveness of combined oral contraception. Half (52.3%) had no knowledge of the subdermal implant and 34.8% did not know what an intrauterine system was. According to 28.2%, post-coital use of hormonal products is not an acceptable method of contraception. Almost 90% (87.3%) indicated that an education intervention regarding hormonal contraception is needed at the university. Conclusion: The study population lacks detailed and sufficient knowledge of critical aspects of contraception, such as relative effectiveness, and factors that affect these; long-acting reversible contraceptives; and emergency contraception. A formal education intervention is proposed

The operational role of the Royal Marines Band Service during the contingency era: lessons from Op GRITROCK.

The Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS) deploys in support of the Royal Naval Medical Service in a variety of operational roles. This article describes the roles that RMBS personnel performed whilst deployed on board RFA ARGUS during the recent Operation GRITROCK. The article is divided into five main sections, each describing one aspect of the work that RMBS ranks were asked to undertake: casualty handling; working within Primary Casualty Receiving Facility (PCRF) departments; personal protective equipment (PPE) monitoring and drills; temperature monitoring; and last, but not least, musical support. This will provide the reader with an insight into what the RMBS have achieved whilst deployed on board ARGUS and also what skills they are able to bring, both to contingency operations and operations in the medical environment.