Contraceptive challenges experienced by women who requested termination of pregnancy services in the Mpumalanga Province

Although contraceptives are available free of charge throughout South Africa, the number of requests for termination of pregnancy (TOP) services continues to increase. This research investigated challenges preventing women from using contraceptives effectively. Structured interviews were conducted with 55 women who requested TOP services. As many as 85.5% of these women had used contraceptives. They discontinued using contraceptives when sideeffects occurred, necessitating them to request TOP services. Knowledge about, access to and the actual use of contraceptives did not enable these women to prevent unwanted pregnancies. More effective counseling about contraceptives' side-effects and enhanced accessibility of contraceptives over weekends and during lunch breaks could enable more women to prevent unwanted pregnancies, reducing the number of requests for TOP services. Keywords: abortions; accessibility of contraceptives; contraceptive challenges; contraceptives' side-effects; emergency contraceptives; termination of pregnancies Health SA Gesondheid Vol. 11 (1) 2006: pp. 43-5