The dual risks of unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS : the case of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Maharaj, Pranitha;
(2003)
The dual risks of unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS : the case of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
PhD thesis, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17037/PUBS.00682317
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This thesis is divided into two parts.
The
broad
aim of
the first
part
of
the
study
is to
provide insights into the perspectives and
behaviour
of sexually
active
individuals
and
couples with regard to the prevention of unwanted pregnancy
and
HIV/AIDS in
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A combination of
qualitative and quantitative
data is
used: focus group discussions, a survey of
individuals
and couples and
in-depth
interviews. The study found that knowledge of
family
planning
is
virtually
universal.
Most men and women approve of family planning as a
method of
fertility
regulation,
although women are more likely than men
to
report using a
method of
family
planning.
Family planning is seen as the woman's
domain
and as a
result, the
wife often
takes the
initiative in using a method of family planning,
sometimes
without
her
husband's
knowledge. With regard to HIV, awareness
is
also virtually universal among
men and
women. Despite this, there is much resistance
to
condom use especially
in
marital
unions. Condoms are more likely to
be
used
in
non-marital than
marital
unions.
However, there are some encouraging
indications that
condom use
in
marital unions
is
occurring and the wife's risk perception
is
a major
factor influencing
use.
In the second part of the study, the emphasis
shifts
from the
perspectives of
individuals
to the role of services. The broad aim of this
part
of the
study
is to
consider
how
health
services are responding to the needs
of sexually active men and
women
by
obtaining
information from providers and clients.
The
study
found that
while condom promotion
is an important component of integrated services,
it is
not consistently undertaken
by
providers. Moreover, in most health facilities,
clients are only
usually
offered
services
for which they present at the health facility.
Clients feel that they
would
benefit from
additional information that will protect them
against the
dual
risks of unwanted
pregnancy and STIs/HIV.