The use of dual or two methods for pregnancy and HIV prevention amongst 18-24-year-olds in a cross-sectional study conducted in South Africa

Introduction: The use of dual (for pregnancy and disease prevention) or two methods of contraceptives is recommended for the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and protection against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV. The study aims to assess the prevalence and explore factors associated with the use of dual or two methods among young people aged 18 to 24 years in South Africa. Methods: Factors associated with use of dual or two methods among young people aged 18 to 24 years in South Africa were investigated by individual interviews. The final sample included 1127 males and 1007 females from four provinces (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga) who reported to have ever had sex. Results: The study found among men (18-24 years) 10.4% and among women (18-24 years) 15.4%, current use of dual or two methods was reported. In multivariate analyses, among women, lower poverty, not being unemployed, having concurrent sexual partners and higher sexual intercourse frequency in the past month were associated with use of dual or two methods, while for men, contraceptive methods knowledge, greater relationship control and higher sexual intercourse frequency in the past month were associated with use of dual or two methods. Conclusion: The use of dual or two methods remains low. Innovative ways are needed for the promotion and increased use of dual or two methods.

Does the South African School Act of 1996 translate into practice with regard to non-exclusion of pregnant teenagers from school, 15 years post its promulgation?

Paper presented at the SAHARA Conference, 28 November-2 Decembe

Contraceptive use and associated factors among South African youth (18-24 years): a population-based survey

Despite ongoing campaigns and intervention programmes promoting safe sex, contraceptive use remains a controversial area among South African youth. The aim was to investigate contraceptive use and associated factors among South African youth aged 18 - 24 years who reported having had sexual intercourse. Young South Africans (3 123 subjects aged 18 - 24 years) in four provinces responded to a cross-sectional population-based household survey. Among women who reported to be currently using contraception (89.1%), 9.3% were using the Pill, 5.2% the intra-uterine contraceptive device, 25.6% injectables, 57.6% male condoms, 5.9% female condoms, and 8.9% dual methods; other methods used were the rhythm method (7.0%), withdrawal (11.5%), and emergency contraception (5.5%). In multivariable analysis among women, ease of getting condoms and not having had early sex (below 15 years of age) were associated with contraceptive use. Among men, better knowledge about contraceptives, having talked with the partner about condoms in the past 12 months, loveLife and multimedia programme exposure were associated with contraceptive use in univariate analysis, while none were retained in the multivariable model. Communicating with the partner about condom use, education and being employed were significantly associated with contraceptive use. However, use of contraceptives is still low, and this is substantiated by the high rate of unwanted pregnancies reported. It is clear that more vigorous, effective and meticulous means of promoting contraceptive use need to be explored, enabling youth to take control of their reproductive health and make informed decisions.

Sexual Violence and Associated Factors among Female Youths in South Africa

The study aims to investigate factors associated with sexual violence among South African female youths (18-24 years) in a cross-sectional household survey. The final sample included 974 sexually active females from four provinces (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga). Of those, 7.3% reported to have had sex because someone used physical force to make them have sex with him/her. In the bivariate analysis, low self-esteem, lack of partner risk self-efficacy, having had sexually transmitted infections in a life-time, early sexual debut, not being employed and medium to high sexually permissive attitudes were associated with having experienced sexual violence. Programmes in combating sexual violence can utilize identified risk factors in interventions.Key words: Sexual violence, risk factors, youth, household survey, South Afric

Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in South African youth

Background: Adolescent pregnancy, occurring in girls aged 10-19 years, remains a serious health and social problem worldwide, and has been associated with numerous risk factors evident in the young people's family, peer, school, and neighbourhood contexts. Objective: To assess the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in the South African context, as part of a population-based household survey that formed part of an evaluation of the impact of loveLife, South Africa's national HIV prevention campaign for young people. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based household survey was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach. The total sample included 3123 participants, aged 18-24, 54.6% men and 45.4% women, from four of nine provinces in South Africa (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga). Results: Among female youth 19.2% said that they had an adolescent pregnancy, while 5.8% of male youth indicated that they had impregnated a girl when they were an adolescent (12-19 years), 16.2% of the women indicated that they ever had an unwanted pregnancy and 6.7% had ever terminated a pregnancy. In multivariable analysis among women it was found that being employed or unemployed, greater poverty, having higher sexually permissive attitudes and scoring higher on the contraceptive or the condom use index was associated with adolescent pregnancy, and among men wanting the pregnancy and having a sense of the future were associated with adolescent pregnancy. Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancy was found to be high in this sample of South African youth. Multiple factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy have been identified which can be used in targeting young people on the prevention of adolescent pregnancy.

Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in South African youth

BACKGROUND: Adolescent pregnancy, occurring in girls aged 10–19 years, remains a serious health and social problem worldwide, and has been associated with numerous risk factors evident in the young people's family, peer, school, and neighbourhood contexts. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in the South African context, as part of a population-based household survey that formed part of an evaluation of the impact of loveLife, South Africa's national HIV prevention campaign for young people. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based household survey was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach. The total sample included 3123 participants, aged 18–24, 54.6% men and 45.4% women, from four of nine provinces in South Africa (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga). RESULTS: Among female youth 19.2% said that they had an adolescent pregnancy, while 5.8% of male youth indicated that they had impregnated a girl when they were an adolescent (12–19 years), 16.2% of the women indicated that they ever had an unwanted pregnancy and 6.7% had ever terminated a pregnancy. In multivariable analysis among women it was found that being employed or unemployed, greater poverty, having higher sexually permissive attitudes and scoring higher on the contraceptive or the condom use index was associated with adolescent pregnancy, and among men wanting the pregnancy and having a sense of the future were associated with adolescent pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Adolescent pregnancy was found to be high in this sample of South African youth. Multiple factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy have been identified which can be used in targeting young people on the prevention of adolescent pregnancy

Adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in South African youth

Background: Adolescent pregnancy, occurring in girls aged 10–19 years, remains a serious health and social problem worldwide, and has been associated with numerous risk factors evident in the young people’s family, peer, school, and neighbourhood contexts. Objective: To assess the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy and associated factors in the South African context, as part of a population-based household survey that formed part of an evaluation of the impact of loveLife, South Africa’s national HIV prevention campaign for young people. Methods: A cross-sectional population-based household survey was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach. The total sample included 3123 participants, aged 18-24, 54.6% men and 45.4% women, from four of nine provinces in South Africa (Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga). Results: Among female youth 19.2% said that they had an adolescent pregnancy, while 5.8% of male youth indicated that they had impregnated a girl when they were an adolescent (12-19 years), 16.2% of the women indicated that they ever had an unwanted pregnancy and 6.7% had ever terminated a pregnancy. In multivariable analysis among women it was found that being employed or unemployed, greater poverty, having higher sexually permissive attitudes and scoring higher on the contraceptive or the condom use index was associated with adolescent pregnancy, and among men wanting the pregnancy and having a sense of the future were associated with adolescent pregnancy. Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancy was found to be high in this sample of South African youth. Multiple factors contributing to adolescent pregnancy have been identified which can be used in targeting young people on the prevention of adolescent pregnancy

Factors associated with unintended pregnancy among women attending a public health facility in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Background: Across the globe a large proportion of pregnancies have been reported as unintended. There are no available reports from South Africa concerning the prevalence of unintended pregnancies. This study explored the prevalence of unintended pregnancies among South African women attending a public primary health care (PHC) clinic in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. It also investigated the relationship between demographic factors, contraceptive use, substance abuse and unintended pregnancy in this setting.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients (n = 328) attending a PHC clinic. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Women who attended the clinic on their first antenatal visit were invited to participate. Participants filled out questionnaires in either English or isiZulu. Association between pregnancy and categorical variables was assessed.Results: Participants were mostly single (89.9%; n = 267), unemployed (70.8%; n = 222) with a monthly income of less than R 1 500 per month (63.8%; n = 81). Two-thirds of the women (64.33%; n = 211) had unintended pregnancies. There was a significant relationship between marital status and unintended pregnancy. Women who were married or living with their partners were more likely to have planned their pregnancies as compared with those who were single or divorced. Unemployed women were more likely to have had unintended pregnancies. No other socio-demographic factors were linked to unintended pregnancy.Conclusion: It is concluded that in this population of South African women with low education levels and low income, the prevalence of unintended pregnancies is high. These unintended pregnancies are linked to single status as well as unemployment