Is pregnancy termination being used as a family planning method in the Free State?

Background: This study determined the profile of women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Free State and whether TOP was used as a family planning method. Methods: Seven hundred and fifty women (15-47 years old) seeking TOP at the Reproductive Health Unit of the National Hospital in Bloemfontein were included in this cross-sectional study. The women who gave verbal consent completed a questionnaire during counselling. Results: The median age of the participants was 24 years and 77.3% were single. Most participants (73.3%) were not using any family planning method at the time of the study. One-fifth (19.1%) had previously had at least one TOP, while for 80.9% of the participants it was their first visit. Some participants (16.6%) considered TOP a family planning method, 39.7% were unsure and 43.7% indicated that TOP is not a family planning method. Thirty-nine women failed to answer this question. When asked the reason for TOP, 3.5% chose the option “contraceptive method”. Conclusions: The relatively high percentage of participants who consider TOP a contraceptive method or are unsure, associated with the fact that most were young, single, not using contraception and had applied for induced abortion just because the conception represented an unwanted pregnancy, implies that some of our population is not aware that termination of pregnancy is not a family planning method. Keywords: termination of pregnancy, family planning methodSouth African Family Practice Vol. 47(5) 2005: 52-5

Knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS symptoms of women receiving termination of pregnancy, Bloemfontein

In 2002, we conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the profile of women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Free State and to find out whether TOP was being used as a family planning method. The participants' contraceptive use and termination of pregnancy profile have been described elsewhere.1 This letter describes the knowledge of STD and HIV/AIDS symptoms of women seeking TOP. Seven hundred and fifty consecutive women between 15 and 47 years of age who visited the Reproductive Health Unit at National Hospital (Bloemfontein) for the purpose of termination of pregnancy (TOP) from April to November 2002 were included in this study. A nurse opened a file for each woman arriving at the Reproductive Health Unit before the doctor's examination during which the gestational age was determined.For full text, click here:SA Fam Pract 2006;48(3):17-1

Use of traditional medicine versus use of the community-based primary health care clinic by the San community at Platfontein

Introduction: Working amongst a San community led to the observation that, despite the availability of modern healthcare, high mortality and morbidity associated with disease, such as dehydration, malnutrition and tuberculosis, still prevailed.This study aimed to determine how traditional beliefs and customs influenced the utilisation of Western medicine. Methods: An observational-descriptive study was conducted. Consenting patients, facilitated by interpreters, completed questionnaires during consultations conducted by nurses and the principal investigator at the Platfontein primary healthcare (PHC) clinic. Results: Of the 113 participants, two-thirds were female. The median age was 40 years; 56.7% lacked formal education; 42.5% conversed only in their native tongue. The initial use of the PHC facility was high (71.4%), even though 37% of the participants visited a traditional healer in the preceding year. Circumcision was the condition for which traditional healers were consulted most commonly (28.8%). Conditions preferably requiring clinic visitation were coughing (51.4%), pain (35.1%) and diarrhoea (34.2%). Of the participants leading mostly a traditional lifestyle (n = 48), 30.6 % indicated that they did not use traditional medicine or healers; 72.9% indicated that illness could be caused by a spell. Of the participantsnot leading a traditional lifestyle (n = 41), 85.4% indicated that they did not use traditional medicine; 41.4% indicated that illness could be caused by a spell.Conclusion: The assumption that the mortality and morbidity observed for certain conditions were due to the preference for traditional medicine in this community could not be confirmed. Doctors working amongst isolated communities or in multicultural environments, however, should recognise that traditional medicine still plays a role in the health care of their patients.Keywords: assumptions; perceptions; modern medicine; Western medicine; traditional healers; San community; Khoisa

Customer Service Expectations from South African Alcoholic Beverage Suppliers in Urban and Rural Areas

South African alcoholic beverage suppliers (SAABS) have to focus their efforts on quality customer service as a means of differentiation. Quality of service is a competitive advantage and serves as a marketing tool for many companies; it also contributes to customer loyalty and retention. Offering quality service is considered an essential strategy for success and survival in today’s competitive business market. A commitment to quality must start from the top of any organisation, be it a service delivery company or a manufacturing or merchandising business, and spiral down to the bottom. SAABS need to understand their customers’ perceptions of the service offering, their existing relationship with the company and their levels of satisfaction. The study set out to measure the service delivery expectations and realisations of customers that receive delivery from SAABS based on their geographical location. It required the implementation of a descriptive research method. The target population comprised customers of SAABS situated in the Gauteng, Western Cape and North West Provinces of South Africa. A sample size of 926 was realised. The results from the study indicate that customers expect the SAABS to deliver on all five service quality dimensions but fail to do so to their satisfaction. If the SAABS used the proposed customer relationship management (CRM) framework, it can improve on their service delivery and customer service. This, in the long run, will improve customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention

Customer Service Expectations from South African Alcoholic Beverage Suppliers

To be successful in the current highly competitive market a South African alcoholic beverage supplying company (SAABSC) must guarantee customer service and service quality. As a means of differentiation companies have to focus their efforts on quality customer service. The purpose of the study is to measure the service delivery expectations and realisations of customers that receive delivery from SAABSC based on their geographical location. It required the implementation of a descriptive research method. The target population comprised customers of SAABSC situated in the Gauteng, Western Cape and North West Provinces of South Africa. The results from the study indicate that customers expect the SAABSC to deliver on all five service quality dimensions but fail to do so to their satisfaction. Recommendations on how to improve on these dimensions are given in the form of CRM strategies that SAABSC can implement. Ensuring that these recommendations are implemented will ensure a higher level of service quality and customer satisfaction. This should lead to increased customer retention, sales and profit growth, increased loyalty, the addition of new customers and overall better customer relationship

The forensic autopsy as a teaching tool: Attitudes and perceptions of undergraduate medical students at the University of Pretoria, South Africa

BACKGROUND. Numerous articles have been published on the use of autopsies in training medical students in anatomy and different branches of pathology. Some authors have described the emotional response of students who attend such postmortem sessions. Forensic pathology is an important subdivision of pathology. In some countries undergraduate medical students are expected to attend postmortem examinations on persons who died from traumatic causes. OBJECTIVE. To determine the attitudes and perceptions of 5th-year medical students with regard to forensic postmortem examinations at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. METHODS. A questionnaire was voluntarily completed by medical students on the last day of the practical rotation. RESULTS. The overall rating of the practical rotation was 82%. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis indicated the following as strengths: record keeping, legislation review and traumatology description; as weaknesses: emotional trauma and nightmares; as opportunities: the attendance of autopsies; and as threats: physical dangers. CONCLUSION. The current study was similar to international studies with regard to students’ emotional response to attending autopsies. The autopsy remains a valuable teaching tool for undergraduate students. Emotional support is currently available for all students to assist them in overcoming their fear of attending forensic autopsy sessions.http://www.ajhpe.org.zaam2016Education InnovationForensic Medicin

Disclosure of Positive and Negative Experiences as Social Utility

We propose that disclosing one’s positive and negative experiences carries social utility for both senders and recipients. We show that consumers consider this utility when deciding whether to disclose their experiences with others. In three preregistered studies, consumers respond in kind to the disclosures of positive and negative experiences by others

Managing the Remains of Foetuses and Abandoned Infants – A Call to Urgently Review South African Law and Medico-legal Practice

This article reviews South African (SA) law and its impact on the medicolegal management of fetal remains emanating from elective and therapeutic termination of pregnancies, stillbirths and miscarriages and the remains of abandoned or exposed infants. It was found that remains are treated differently, some constituting medical waste while others have sufficient status in law to allow for burial. This approach results in some women or couples being denied a choice with regard to disposal via culturally relevant practices, and is insensitive to the fact that all remains ultimately constitute human remains. The article argues that SA law is in urgent need of reform, and turns to foreign law and forensic practice to shed light on possible alternative approaches that could assist with developing the SA position and thereby improve the practical management of fetal and infant remains in SA