Health providers' perceptions of adolescent sexual and reproductive health care in Swaziland.

Aim: To explore health providers' perceptions of adolescent sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Swaziland.

Methods: Fifty-six healthcare providers, working in 11 health clinics in Swaziland in 2005, were surveyed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and content analysis to identify key themes.

Adolescents' views on decision-making regarding risky sexual behaviour.

Purpose: To explore adolescents' views regarding risky sexual behaviour who were aged between 13 and 19 years.

Methods: A purposive sample was drawn from adolescents who were participating in workshops, organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The sample consisted of a mix of in-school and out-of-school adolescents aged between 13 and 19 years.

Family and community support to adolescent mothers in Swaziland.

Background: Early pregnancy and unplanned childbirth have far-reaching physical, psychological and social consequences to the adolescent girl and her offspring and is therefore a public health problem for concern. At Mbabane Government Hospital 25% of the deliveries are by women aged 10-19 years. Little has been documented about family and community support for adolescent mothers in Swaziland.

Quality of maternity care for adolescent mothers in Mbabane, Swaziland.

Early pregnancy and unplanned childbirth may have far-reaching physical, psychological and social consequences for the adolescent girl and her offspring and are therefore public health issues of concern. A number of evidence-based maternity practices might, if properly applied, prevent unnecessary health-related problems in mothers and newborns, postnatally. In order to identify the areas of maternity practice that require improvement in Swaziland, the overall aim of this study was to generate systematic data on the maternity care and social support provided by health professionals (for adolescent mothers and their children) on admission, in the labour ward, and during and after delivery.

Targeted intervention research studies on sexually transmitted diseases (STD): methodology, selected findings and implications for STD service delivery and communications.

Objective: To report the findings of qualitative studies designed for use in improving sexually transmitted disease (STD) programs. The studies explore illness conceptions and treatment behaviors for STD in five African countries. These targeted intervention research (TIR) studies were performed on clinic-based and community-based samples in representative communities and utilized a variety of qualitative research methods (e.