Browsing by Author "Maharaj, Pranitha."

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Access to sexual and reproductive health services for persons with disabilities : a case study of Clarendon home for persons with disabilities, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2013) Mavuso, Sibusisiwe Siphelele.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Sexual and reproductive health are integral parts of the health and well-being of every human being, however they remain sensitive and controversial issues, particularly when they concern persons with disabilities. Within the legal framework, sexual and reproductive health is recognized as basic human rights. They are also essential components of good health and personal development. Making sure that persons with disabilities have access to sexual and reproductive health services contributes to the fulfillment of their sexual and reproductive rights by providing them with more choices that potentially best suit their reproductive health needs. South Africa has one of the most progressive and liberal sexual and reproductive health laws and policies in the world, yet persons with disabilities still face major barriers in accessing these services. In fact, their sexuality has been largely overlooked or actively suppressed and in turn, their reproductive rights denied. With this background information, the study aims to shed more insights into the experiences and perspectives of persons with disabilities in accessing sexual and reproductive health in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Following the rights-based approach it assesses their awareness of sexual and reproductive health services and determines the factors that hinder their access to sexual and reproductive health services. The findings from the sample of 16 persons with different types of disabilities suggest that access to sexual and reproductive health services is complex and involve a variety of factors. The majority of respondents revealed that sexual and reproductive health services are a big part of their lives. However, there seemed to be a huge gap between their needs for services and their right to access these services. The general consensus was that persons with disabilities face challenges and multiple barriers to access services. Significantly these barriers are not raised by the disability itself but are related to specific contexts or instances of persons with disabilities trying to access services. From the discussions it was apparent that respondents‟ rights to be treated with dignity and to access sexual and reproductive health services is often overshadowed by social isolation, discrimination and other stereotypical assumptions that the society holds about the sexuality of persons with disabilities. Often, persons with disabilities are percieved as not sexually active hence information on sexual and reproductive health matters is not widely available in formats accessible to them. Health providers appeared surprised that person with disabilities will require assistant with family planning services and they are not given choices about suitable birth control methods rather often the nurses suggested that they terminate their pregnancies or to be sterilized. This reveals a need to address access to sexual and reproductive health services for persons with disabilities especially, through public health facilities in South Africa.
Adaption and survival: perspectives and experiences of migrants in an urban township in KwaZulu-Natal.
(2022) Mazibuko, Philane Bongumusa.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
South Africa is currently facing a growing number of migrants from other countries. This qualitative study investigates the dilemma of being a migrant in South Africa. The overall objective was to explore the perspectives and experiences of migrants in Newcastle, South Africa. Particular attention is given to exploring how the migrants negotiate the often controversial social, economic, cultural, and political realities in the urban towns of KwaZulu-Natal. The South African case is subject to investigation, particularly regarding the migration system. In this study, the data was collected using in-depth interviews. Interviews were held with 20 migrants, both men, and women, living in Newcastle KwaZulu-Natal. All participants were migrants from various African countries such as Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Congo, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Nigeria. The study found that migrants use different livelihood strategies to survive in South Africa, and their level of education does not allow them to work in the formal sector. This study found that migrants work as street traders to earn income, buy, and sell goods at an affordable price, and they use their skills to make and sell a range of products. Furthermore, migrants work as hairdressers, restaurant waiters, welders, bricklayers, and shopkeepers to earn income. Other migrants have families in South Africa as well as in their home countries. Migrants send home part of their earnings in the form of either cash or goods to support their families, these transfers are known as a worker or migrant remittances. Migrants are vulnerable to crime and xenophobia, they become abused and exploited by the local people since they are not from South Africa, they even call them derogatory names. Most participants observed that they are surviving in South Africa, nevertheless, they are concerned with their safety. The study recommends that there must be a strong awareness among police that everyone has a right and deserves respect and protection, regardless of who they are and whether they have any legal documentation.
Adolescents' perception of risk of AIDS and condom use.
(2002) Mgwaba, Mbongeleni Thembalihle.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
A significant proportion of people living with HIV/AIDS are aged 15-24. The aim of this study is to investigate adolescent's perception of risk of AIDS and their use of condoms. The study draws on focus group discussions with adolescents in two districts in KwaZulu-Natal. The study found that awareness of AIDS is high. Most adolescents had heard of AIDS. However, there were some common misconceptions about AIDS. African adolescents are more likely to perceive themselves at risk than other race groups. Perception of risk is imp01iant to promote protective behaviour. There are however many barriers to condom use. One of the major barriers to condom use is the association of condoms with lack of trust.
African immigrants in Durban : a case study of foreign street traders' contribution to the city.
(2011) Sidzatane, Ndumiso Justice.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
This dissertation explores the livelihood activities of Durban's African migrant street traders. The study also seeks to gain insight into the challenges that confront them as well as the perceptions that local street traders have of them. The researcher argues that migrant street traders make a contribution towards the economic development of the city. Migrant street traders are attracted to Durban because of the economic opportunities that the city offers as well as the fact that it has a lower crime rate than cities such as Johannesburg. The concept of livelihood strategy was used to develop the theoretical framework that guides the research. The study makes use of the qualitative research method. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted with migrant and local street traders, who were a mixture of male and female. Of the fifteen interviewees, ten were migrant traders (five females and five males) and five were local street traders (three females and two males). The research was conducted in the Central Business District (CBD) in the vicinity of the Workshop Shopping Centre. The findings of the study suggest that migrants make an economic contribution (albeit not a substantial one) to the development of the city. Some of the local street traders recognise this contribution while others do not. Migrant street traders encounter difficulties in accessing the finance and capital necessary to start their entrepreneurial businesses. The other major problems experienced by the migrant traders in the city are to do with crime, the metropolitan police, local government officials, securing of a suitable accommodation, and accessing trading sites, education and healthcare. The research concludes by recommending that the business-training sessions that are arranged by the municipality of local street traders be open to migrant street traders as well. Local communities should also be educated about the positive role of the migrants in the city.
Alcohol use at universities: a case study of young students in Durban.
(2021) Bhengu, Akhona Presentia.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Alcohol use is a global concern because of the health risks it poses that contributes to the overall burden of disease. Alcohol use among young people, especially university students, is concerning and a major public health issue because of the increasing levels of use. Excessive alcohol use can affect a young individual’s general health, emotional wellbeing, and their social development. There is a dearth of literature that focuses exclusively on the use of alcohol by male university students. This study aimed to fill this gap by providing insights into alcohol use by male university students by drawing on the qualitative research approach. In total, 20 semi-structured in-depth interviews were held with students at the University of KwaZulu- Natal. The findings of this study suggest that there is a high prevalence of alcohol use among the study sample. Students revealed that they first started using alcohol when they were at high school. In addition, the study revealed that individual, environmental and demographic factors contribute to alcohol use. Although students were aware of the adverse effects of alcohol use, they were also aware of and used various strategies to deal with these alcohol-related challenges. Similarly, the interviews suggest that male students had negative attitudes towards alcohol because of the bad experiences they encountered when they consumed alcohol. This study recommends that future research explores the factors that encourage and help students responsibly decrease alcohol use. Universities need to strengthen their responsibility to manage their students’ drinking patterns. Student driven alcohol awareness and education programmes by universities is also recommended to prevent alcohol use at campuses.
An examination of the role of antenatal care attendance in preventing adverse birth outcomes in South Africa.
(2007) Ntuli, Abigail Nozipho.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Increasing adverse birth outcome are a major concern in South African maternal care and globally In South Africa, perinatal mortality rate of 40/1000 and maternal mortality ratio of 150/100 000 are poor considering the fact that 95.1 percent of women attend antenatal care and 83.7 percent of women deliver in a medical facility. This study focuses on the effect of lack of adequate antenatal care on adverse birth outcome using data from the 1998 South African Demographic and Health Survey. The analysis is based on univariate and bivariate analysis to examine the effect of socio- demographic characteristics on adverse birth outcomes. In addition, binary logistic regression is used to examine the impact of antenatal and sociodemographic characteristics on adverse birth outcome. The results show majority of women reporting adverse birth outcome are those who delivered though caesarean section (53 percent) and that most of these women are likely to be educated and have better socio economic status and that they are likely to be Non African. It is also shows that the proportion of women attending antenatal care adequately is very high in South Africa. The results show that the use of antenatal care is determined by a range of socio demographic factors including the level of education and the economic status of the mother. Only timing of antenatal care, place of delivery and race had a significant effect on adverse birth outcome. All other variables were not significant. Results from the binary regression analysis show that women who started their antenatal care during second and third trimester (95%CI: 0.211-0.975), were Non African (95%CI: 1.082 to 2.098) and delivered in a private health facilities (95%CI: 0.28 to 0.73) were more likely to have adverse birth outcome compared to their counterparts. Most women choosing caesarean section do so without adequate information on the disadvantages of delivering through caesarean section. Therefore, there is a need to focus maternal health education to all women in South Africa regardless of their socio- economic status background
An analysis of the impact of traditional initiation schools on adolescents sexual and reproductive health : a case study of rural Thulamela Municipality.
(2005) Malisha, Lutendo.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
There has been a great deal of focus on young people and how they obtain information about reproductive health matters in the era of HIV/AIDS. However, there has very limited research on role of traditional initiation schools in the era of HIVIAIDS. In some parts of South Africa, young men and women continue to attend traditional initiation schools. The primary aim of these schools is to disseminate information about sexuality and other reproductive health matters in order to ensure that young people are well prepared for their future social growth, societal responsibilities and conjugal matters. Interviews were conducted with young people who had attended traditional initiation schools. The study was conducted in three villages in the Limpopo Province in South Africa where traditional initiations are widely practices. The study examines the impact of traditional initiation schools on adolescent's sexuality and reproductive health behaviour. The findings of the study show that traditional initiation schools have an important role to play in imparting information about sexuality and reproductive health. Traditional initiation schools prepare young people for the transition to adulthood. It is believed that these schools produce men who are independent, brave and courageous and women who are good mothers, wives and daughter-in-Iaws. However, some young men and women feel that they are more likely to engage in sexual activities soon after attending traditional initiation schools. This is because there is massive use of sexually explicit language during the process of initiation. Some young people feel that traditional initiation schools have contributed to the increase in sexual activity and as a result, negative reproductive health outcomes. However, the main conclusion is that traditional initiation schools have an important role to play to shaping the sexual and reproductive health behaviour of Venda young men and women.
Assessing knowledge, attitudes and practices of boys and young men with regard to the prevention of pregnancy and HIV infection.
(2006) Gqamane, Velile.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
This paper focuses on boys and young men's attitudes, knowledge and practices with regard to pregnancy and HIV infection. The objective of the study is to ascertain how boys and young men perceive the risks of pregnancy and HIV infection. The study further investigates the strategies which the sexually active respondents considered as appropriate, practical and effective in coping with these risks. The study was based on the secondary data which was extracted from the transitions to adulthood survey conducted in KwaZulu Natal during 2001. The analysis was restricted to young men aged 14 to 24 years. The major findings from the study revealed that young men did not perceive themselves at risk of HIV infection. Overall, respondents were fairly knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and knew where to access condoms, how HIV is contracted or transmitted etc. Findings also indicated that many respondents regarded pregnancy as a matter of great concern. Many respondents perceived pregnancy as highly problematic and were concerned to protect themselves against this risk. The major finding for this study revealed that the majority of sexually active young men used condoms for preventing both pregnancy and HIV/AIDS; while some also used various contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy. A major factor promoting consistent condom use was the perception of pregnancy as highly problematic.
Assessing the role of agricultural co-operatives in contributing to Local Economic Development (LED): a case of waterloo township.
(2021) Mbokazi, Nqubenhle Mqobi.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
The co-operative movement is one of the strategies adopted by the South African democratic government to address the triple challenge of poverty, inequality, and unemployment. To that extent, co-operatives have been widely recognised as catalysts for economic development and have been prominently featured in national, provincial, and local development strategies for inclusive growth. While there are many forms of co-operatives in South Africa, the majority focus on agriculture. Agricultural co-operatives have been widely promoted as a vehicle for smallholder farmers to directly participate in the mainstream economy of South Africa. Despite the optimism on the potential of co-operatives, research studies which documents their successes in South Africa suggest that their performance yields 'mixed results,' with insufficient statistical proof of their ability to generate substantial revenue or jobs. These co-operatives have been supported and established as part of the national, regional, and local economic development strategy. Despite this effort, evidence from previous research has suggested that the performance of co-operatives is below what is expected considering that they receive assistance from the government. This study uses a qualitative approach to interrogate the extent to which agricultural co-operatives contribute to Local Economic Development (LED) using Waterloo township as a case study. A total of 15 members from five different agricultural co-operatives based in Waterloo township were interviewed. Using purposive sampling, this study draws on findings collected from participants who are agricultural co-operatives members located in Waterloo township. The study findings emphasised lack of access to the market, insufficient resources, including other underlying internal and external factors as the main factors influencing the limited contribution of Waterloo agricultural co-operatives. In contrast, some other co-operatives were found to empower, utilise resources, sustain livelihoods and create job opportunities. Moreover, this study found that some agricultural co-operatives in Waterloo may support the livelihoods of its members; however, there is still a significant limitation in these cooperatives' contribution to local economic development initiatives. Subsequently, this suggests that the Waterloo township economy is less affected by these. This study has noted that although there are many existing active co-operatives in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality area, their impact and contribution to LED initiatives remain largely unreported publicly. Therefore, very little is understood about co-operatives in townships and theirability to help smallholder farmers leverage existing resources and maintain livelihoods in a township setting. However, the study showed that despite many internal and external challenges encountered by agricultural co-operatives in South African townships, they still demonstrate a strong potential to significantly impact the local economy and assist local people in sustaining their livelihoods. Furthermore, this study argues that there is too much government interference in the cooperative development programme, which causes confusion among ordinary people. Thus, the study recommends that the development of co-operatives should be autonomous, and to enhance the economic contribution of smallholder farmers, there is a need to intensify educational support and lessen government involvement in initiating co-operatives projects.
Awareness of reproductive cancers among students in Durban, South Africa.
(2017) Mambondiani, Liberty T.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Cancer is emerging as a major public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the leading cause of death in economically developed countries and the second leading cause of death in developing countries. In females, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer and in males, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. However, studies on other cancers that affect the reproductive organs are limited. This study therefore investigates the awareness of reproductive cancers and screening related services among young people. Using a qualitative approach, which is a way of obtaining descriptions of the life world of the subject with respect to interpretation of their meaning, the study investigates the perceived severity of reproductive cancer, perceived barriers and benefits to routine screening for early diagnosis through in-depth interviews. Furthermore, the study aims for the depth of understanding of the awareness of reproductive cancers among young people. The findings of this study suggest that there is very low awareness of reproductive cancers among young people. This study reveals that students were more aware of cervical and prostate cancer than other reproductive cancers. Furthermore, the study found that there was very low awareness of HPV and knowledge and awareness of screening services were lacking greatly. An important finding of the study was that students did not know that there is a link between engaging in risky sexual behaviors and spreading of HPV and development of reproductive cancers. It was then recommended that intensive programmes informing and educating young people about their sexual and reproductive health are needed. The department of health together with other government departments as well as organizations dealing with cancer should work together in increasing awareness programmes.
Barriers to HIV/AIDS protective behaviour among African adolescent males in township secondary schools in Durban, South Africa.
(2001) Tillotson, Jonathan D.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
This exploratory qualitative study investigates possible barriers to HIV preventive behavior amongst Zulu-speaking, black adolescent males, aged 15-23, in township secondary schools in Durban, South Africa. Perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, and practices concerning HIV prevention and transmission are elicited using semi-structured focus groups and mixed open-ended and closed-ended questionnaires. Thematic analysis of the data is used to identify possible barriers to protection. Issues specifically investigated are condom use and multiple sexual partners. Belief in the ability to choose uninfected girlfriends, a distrust of and misperceptions about condoms, the importance of trust to a sexual relationship, false optimism engendered by fast-spreading myths about cures, and skewed risk perception engendered by conspiracy theory narratives and overestimation of the severity of the epidemic were found to be possible barriers to protection amongst males and controlling the spread of HIV. A discussion of these barriers ensues the results.
Blesser-blessee relationships: perspectives and experiences of students at Howard College, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
(2019) Doyisa, Nompumelelo Prudence.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
In South Africa there are some young women who engage in sexual relationship with older partners who are rich so that they will be provided with money and material items. The women involved are called blessees and their rich partners are called blessers. The practise is a form of transactional sex as older rich men (blessers) exchange money and expensive material items to get sex in return from the women (blessees). Transactional sex is motivated by two economic factors, which includes consumerism and survival. The aim of the study is to understand blesser-blessee relationships from the perspectives of students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College. The study relies on a combination of in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions to better understand blesser-blessee relations. In total, there were 15 in-depth interviews, with ten females and five males as well as two focus group discussions. All the interviews were conducted with first-year students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The study found that as many black families in South Africa are faced with high levels of unemployment, so many parents are struggling to financially support their children. The rising cost of tuition fees, limited scholarship and bursaries, accommodation needs have been the major reason for first-year female students to engage in sexual relationship with blessers because they want financial assistance from them. Blessers were found to be violent, powerful and abusive to their partners. It was found that as these blessers were spending more money on students, this behaviour has given them more power in these blesser-blessee relationships. The big issue about such behaviour is that students involved in these types of relationship are at risk of HIV or STIs as the study revealed that these men are more likely to engage in sexual relationships with multiple partners. The study recommends that since blesser-blessee relationships involve sexual risk behaviours, prevention programmes must raise awareness among young women of the risks associated with these relationships.
Changing gender roles in the household: a case study of Lamontville in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
(2021) Mofokeng, Puseletso Precious.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Gender roles are expectations that individuals, groups, and societies have of people based on their sex. These expectations are also based on each society's values and beliefs. Society is constructed in a way that traditional and cultural norms shape gender roles in societies, and these are expressed in households where men and women are not given equal roles. The overall aim of the study was to investigate the construction of gender roles and the factors that lead to gender inequality within households in townships, specifically in Lamontville in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The qualitative data used in this study was collected from indepth interviews with twenty men and women in Lamontville township, in the south of Durban. The findings of this study showed that women tend to be side-lined when it comes to decision making in the household. Participants noted that inequalities are deeply rooted after marriage and women are denied the opportunity of pursuing their studies to empower themselves. In addition, this tends to result in unequal power relations and gender inequities that originate from male domination and socio-cultural structures in the society. As much as there are minor improvements in gender relations in some parts of South Africa, women are still disproportionately burdened by the realities of gender inequality, gender stereotypes and structural violence within households. During the interviews, participants also showed that socio-cultural structures, education, geographical setting, poverty and economic status are major factors that reinforce the unbalanced gender roles in societies today. Additionally, the lack of education for some women has led to the exacerbation of gender inequality, as many households in Lamontville are headed by men. Experiences of gender-based violence and domestic abuse was also noted by a few female participants but they emphasized that they would not leave their husbands because they are financially dependent on them for survival and for those of their children. This study points to the importance of ensuring that the safety of women in households is maintained by promoting greater equality.
Childcare arrangements of migrants: a case study of mothers in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg.
(2018) Majola, Thobelani Nompilo.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Studies on migration focus on the various patterns of movements for individuals. These patterns were shaped by the colonial and apartheid-era policies, which channeled black male labour migration while women and children remained in rural areas. In recent years, more and more women have been entering the labour market. This has increased migration rates for women and as a result, permanent urban migration has been growing. This shift had implications for children who may migrate with their parents or may be left behind in rural areas. There is a great deal of literature on adult migration and temporary labour patterns in South Africa, but very little on how this has affected children. The aim of this study was to shed insight on the childcare arrangements made by women who internally migrate with their children to urban areas in search of economic opportunities. For this study, data was obtained from face to face in-depth interviews that were held with twenty migrant mothers from Imbali, Unit 13 in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. The findings of this study have indicated that migrant mothers had limited awareness of childcare facilities when they first migrated to Imbali. The majority of migrant mothers have highlighted that they have placed their children in formal facilities within the community and some of these facilities where not conducive for children as they believed it was not in their best interest due to a number of factors. Finances and distance were the main factors influencing selection of childcare arrangements. The study recommends that all stakeholders invest in facilities within the community as most parents suggested that facilities were not affordable. The involvement of both private and public stakeholders can assist in ensuring that when parents migrate, they properly make care plans for their children.
Cohabitation among young people in Durban, South Africa: exploring perspectives and experiences.
(2022) Mazibuko, Nondumiso Xolile.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Cohabitation has recently become a norm among young people. While it has been done even in the past, it was not as common as it is nowadays. The study explores the attitudes of young people towards cohabitation. The study draws on in-depth interviews conducted amongst young people residing in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. In total, there were 20 interviews that were conducted with both males and females. The findings indicate that cohabitation relationship among youth is becoming more prevalent and normal especially in the cities. Most cohabiting couples have different experiences as well as challenges. Both men and women have different attitudes when it comes to cohabitation. There are positive and negative impacts associated with being in a cohabiting relationship. Some couples get a chance to raise their children in an environment where there is a father and a mother as well. Other reasons for cohabitation include the high costs of lobola. The study suggested that people from rural areas should be educated about cohabitation in different ways, as the study has shown that in rural areas cohabitation is regarded as a taboo or disrespectful. There are some recommendations which were proposed such as there should be some facilities in rural areas where people will be taught more about cohabitation. There should also be some support groups that will accommodate people or couples who are facing challenges while cohabiting.
Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care services for youth : a health sector priority.
(2011) Alli, Farzana.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Sexual and reproductive health care have become key priorities both within developing and developed nations. Young people have been identified as particularly vulnerable to negative health outcomes. South Africa is one such example of a country that presently faces significant challenges in addressing the unmet sexual and reproductive health needs of young people. With the enormous burden of reproductive health problems and the accelerating HIV epidemic, the provision of sexual and reproductive health services remains a challenge. Though various studies highlight the importance of comprehensive services targeted at youth, there is a lack of adequate research in evaluating the extent to which health services are addressing the health needs of clients. This study aimed to address this gap by examining a health care facility for students at one of the largest tertiary institutions in KwaZulu-Natal. The core objective was to determine the extent to which the health services are responding to the sexual and reproductive needs of young people by, exploring the experiences and perspectives of service providers and young men and women in relation to comprehensive, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health care. This was assessed using a revised version of the Bruce-Jain quality of care framework. Information for this study was obtained using quantitative and qualitative data collection methods including: an inventory of the facility and services, in-depth interviews with staff and exit interviews with 200 clients aged 18 to 24 years. The findings of the study reveal that logistical constraints hindered effective implementation of comprehensive, youth-friendly services by providers. Providers missed opportunities to provide clients with much needed information and services due to staff shortage, client overload, lack of infrastructure, and poor continuity mechanisms. HIV, STIs and unwanted pregnancies were some of the most important health issues among young people visiting the health facility. Very few young men utilised the services. Some of the key findings were that clients continue to experience barriers in interpersonal relations while many expressed the need for more information from providers. In addition, many young women still have an unmet need for contraception. Policy makers need to incorporate the needs of young clients within sexual and reproductive health initiatives. Ideally young people should be involved in the design and implementation process of comprehensive, youth-friendly health initiatives. This would form a platform for addressing the barriers that hinder health service provision.
Consequences of gender based violence on reproductive health : a case study of female patients in Lemera Hospital.
(2010) Zihindula, Theo Ganzamungu.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
This study was conducted in order to explore the experiences of survivors of gender based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The aim was to determine the impact of gender based violence on the reproductive health of women. The study was carried out at a hospital in the eastern province of the country. In-depth interviews were conducted with women survivors of rape and informant interviews with staff at the hospital. A total of twenty one participants participated in the study. The findings show that women suffered humiliation, physical and psychological torture during their rape. Some women were raped by a number of men. The rape also had serious consequences for their sexual and reproductive health. Some of the effects of their rape were long-term: it resulted in an unwanted pregnancy or HIV/AIDS. Many of the women expressed their fears for the future. They were particularly worried about their children, especially those who were divorced following their rape and those who lived with HIV/AIDS.
Contraceptive use among young people: a case study of university students in Durban, South Africa.
(2016) Lombo, Mandy.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
There have been many studies conducted on the issue of contraceptive use among the youth. This is because the issue of contraceptive use among the youth is considered an important one, in the midst of high rates of unwanted/ unplanned pregnancies in the developing world. Unplanned pregnancies can have a negative impact on the studies of an individual. The rate of unplanned/ unwanted pregnancies is highest among young people. This category of individuals is most likely to be at a tertiary institute, this is why this study opted to try and understand the perceptions of the youth in the university context. This study also aimed at understanding how the interpersonal and social networks of these students impacted their contraceptive attitudes and use. This study draws on the theory of unsafe sexual behaviour to understand these interpersonal and social networks and if they have any impact on the decision of the participant in this study A qualitative approach was taken, in the form of 20 in-depth interviews with students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The study found that interpersonal networks of an individual did influence their contraceptive decision-making. Many of the participants that were using a contraceptive admitted that if their friends had negative opinions about contraceptives then they too would most likely have a negative perception of contraceptives as well. This was because friends were identified as the main source of information on sexual matters in the absence of parental advice. The interpersonal and social relationships also had an influence on the type of contraceptive to be used. Therefore it must be taken into consideration that individuals do not exist in isolation to their interpersonal networks. It became clear that the issue of contraceptive use by students is multi-dimensional and thus the approach should also be multi-dimensional. Campaigns aimed at changing the sexual behaviour of youth should focus on encouraging society as a whole rather than isolating youth.
Contraceptive use amongst women of rural KwaZulu-Natal: a case study of Ntabamhlophe.
(2020) Mkhize, Ayanda Fozzia.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
Sexual and reproductive health practices among women has been widely researched in South Africa. However, little is known about the contraceptive practices of older women in rural areas of South Africa as they are often excluded in research. The benefits of using contraceptives include the prevention of unintended pregnancies, limiting and spacing births as well the prevention of HIV and STIs. In developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan African countries, contraceptive prevalence rates are low. The latest results from the 2016 South Africa Demographic and Health Survey indicate that contraceptive prevalence among South African women has gradually increased but remain critically low when compared to other countries. In addition, the statistics indicate that contraceptive use is lower in rural areas in comparison to urban areas. The aim of this study is to shed insights into contraceptive use in a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This study relied on collecting qualitative data using in-depth, face-to-face interviews with women. Fifteen black women aged between 25 and 35 years from the rural area of Ntabamhlophe in KwaZulu-Natal were interviewed. The collected data was used to identify factors that promote or inhibit contraceptive use. The study found that awareness of contraception exists, however this does not translate into correct and consistent use of contraceptives. The collected data found that the majority of the women were not using any method of contraception. The study reveals that attitudes to contraception play a critical role in decision-making associated with contraceptive use among rural women. The desire to limit or space births and evade child mortality influences contraceptive use. Socio-economic factors such as educational level and employment have an influence on the use of contraceptives as these are seen to promote the use of contraceptives. Factors that inhibit the use of contraceptives include cultural beliefs and practices, myths and negative misconceptions, fear of contraceptive side effects, attitudes of health professionals, as well as the unavailability of a range of contraceptive methods. This study recommends the development of community intervention programmes that aim at educating selected groups on contraceptives. This study further stresses the need to increase male involvement in sexual and reproductive health issues as a means to increase contraceptive use. Additionally, more efforts should be made to increase the availability of contraceptives in rural areas.
Correlates of HIV perceived risks and protective strategies among adolescents in rural Malawi.
(2011) Manyamba, Christopher.; Maharaj, Pranitha.; Nzimande, Nompumelelo Barbara.
The study examined correlates of HIV perceived risks and protective strategies among adolescents in rural Malawi i.e. whether there was an association between socio demographic characteristics of adolescents and subsequent HIV perceived risks and protective strategies. Age at sexual debut is a variable of interest in this study. The objectives were to investigate whether age at first sexual intercourse does influence adolescents’ individual’s risk perceptions of HIV and protective strategies, i.e. does age at first sex set a precedence in the thinking of adolescentswith regards HIV risks and protective strategies such as condom use. Data: This study uses cross sectional data from Wave 3 of a wider study, the Malawi Diffusion and Ideational Change Project (MDICP).The MDICP is a joint collaboration between researchers from the Population Studies Centre at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Malawi‘s College of Medicine and Chancellor College. In this study, a multiple regression analysis on the cross sectional data from the 2004 wave 3of the Malawi Diffusion and Ideational Change Project was done. The focus of this study is on the relationship between age at first sexual intercourse and the individual‘s perception of risk of HIV/AIDS and protective strategies, it examines if there is an association between the two factors. Descriptive analysis: Descriptive statistics to obtain the frequencies of the main variables of interest such as the background characteristics of respondents (gender, marital status, mean age at sexual debut, education, economic status of household) were computed in order to better understand the population under study. Multivariate Analysis: Three separate models were employed; two multinomial regression analysis measuring worry and likelihood of infection against socio demographic variables and a binary logistic regression measuring condom use and the socio demographic variables. Relative Risk Ratios were used to interpret the multinomial logistic regression output while odds ratios were used to interpret the logistic output. Results: Consistent with existing literature, results indicate that early age at first sex is a predictor of HIV risk perceptions and protective strategies. Age at first sex does set a precedence in the future thinking of adolescents with regards to how they perceive HIV risks, as well as how they perceive protective strategies against HIV-particularly condom use. This study confirms that age at first sex alongside with other socio demographic variables are significantly associated with HIV risk perceptions HIV and condom use, while other factors may matter, such as gender, region, HIV knowledge, religion or educational level. Limitations: The information on age at first sexual encounter was based exclusively on respondent’s self–reports. This data collection method often has limitations that are attributed to the tendency for people to under-report socially unacceptable behaviours (e.g. having multiple sex partners) and to over-report socially acceptable behavior. The other limitation is that the study lacks longitudinal data to allow a more in-depth analysis of trends in HIV/AIDS-related indicators.