Adolescent mothers' utilization of contraceptive services in South Africa.
BACKGROUND
In South Africa, contraceptives, as well as emergency contraceptives, are available free of charge. Since 1996, changed legislation has enabled women of all ages to choose whether they wish their pregnancies to be terminated during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, adolescent mothers, 19 years or younger at the time of their babies' birth, were investigated regarding why they failed to use contraceptive, emergency contraceptive or termination of pregnancy services.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the knowledge of young mothers regarding contraception.


METHODS
An exploratory descriptive survey, utilizing questionnaires and convenience sampling.


RESULTS
The majority of the participating 250 adolescent mothers lacked knowledge about contraceptives, emergency contraceptives and termination of pregnancy services. Merely legalizing the termination of pregnancies, and providing free contraceptive and emergency contraceptive services, did not affect the utilization of these services by the 250 adolescent mothers investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
Young mothers require more knowledge to enable them to make better informed decisions, and the services need to become more readily accessible and user friendly to adolescents. Reproductive health services provided specifically to adolescents could enhance the utilization of such services.
Ehlers
V J
VJ
Department of Advanced Nursing Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa. bvgrain@mweb.co.za
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014600:Utilization Review