Reproductive health care in the Gelukspan Health Ward

Reproductive health care, namely family planning, antenatal care (ANC), labour care and postnatal care, was studied in the Gelukspan health ward of Bophuthatswana in 1985-1986. Only a minority of the women interviewed (20%) had planned their last pregnancy, but most had attended for ANC (93%) and had had supervised deliveries in a hospital or clinic (80%). Most (97%) knew of modern methods of fertility control but only a minority (37%) were using them. Planned pregnancies were more likely to be reported by married women (73% of 37 v. 9% of 173; P = 0.0000) who left school at an earlier age (16.0 +/- 5.9 years v. 17.0 +/- 3.9 years; P = 0.0462). If unmarried, women who had planned their pregnancy were more likely to be maintained by the father of the child (15% v. 4%; P = 0.0134). They were also less likely to have left school because of the pregnancy (20% v. 50%; P = 0.0001). Unmarried women with supervised deliveries are more likely to have financial support from the father of the child. Maternal school education is positively related to attendance for ANC, attendance for supervised labour and utilisation of modern methods of fertility control. There seems to be an intricate relationship between the different outcomes measured. ANC attenders were more likely to have supervised deliveries. Both groups were more likely to start attending for child health care earlier and more frequently. Our results are discussed.