title: Problems experienced by pregnant student nurses in the Republic of South Africa.
abstract: The purpose of this quantitative exploratory descriptive survey was to determine which problems pregnant student nurses experienced in the Northern Province (NP) of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Questionnaires were completed by 93 pregnant student nurses in this province, indicating that the majority of them became pregnant because they lacked knowledge about contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, and termination of pregnancy (TOP) services (legalized in the RSA since 1996). They delayed seeking prenatal care and experienced tiredness, dizziness, and vaginal bleeding during the first trimester. Most pregnant student nurses encountered academic problems as a result of their pregnancies. These and other results indicate a dire need to educate the student nurses about contraceptives and about accessing reproductive health care services. If the students do not utilize the available services themselves, it is unlikely that they will advise their clients to utilize such services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: Mutshinyalo L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Netshikweta
authors.forename: Valerie J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Ehlers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D018743:Perinatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013019:South Africa; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires