Young women's access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Cape Town

Vievermans, Maud Stefanie Joanna

Young women's access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Cape Town

Thesis / Dissertation

2025

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Social Development

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

Many women in low-and-middle-income countries, including South Africa, struggle to access sexual and reproductive healthcare services. This study aimed to describe young women's experiences to access sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Cape Town, South Africa. This study employed a qualitative research design, specifically a phenomenological descriptive approach. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 young women aged between 18-25, who have accessed sexual and reproductive healthcare services in Cape Town. Interviews were facilitated by Partners in Sexual Health, an organisation that provides and advocates for sexual and reproductive health & rights in South Africa. Thematic analysis was then employed and the analysis was framed using the socio-ecological model for health. The findings of this study revealed that young women in South Africa face challenges in accessing accurate information about sexual and reproductive healthcare services, leaving them unprepared to make informed decisions about their sexual health. Limited knowledge about sexual and reproductive healthcare services, coupled with a lack of support by family, friends, community stigmatisation, and disrespectful and unprofessional treatment by healthcare workers hinders young women in having positive experiences while accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare clinics. In addition, the findings of this study underscore the limited autonomy that young women have in making their own decisions about their sexual health. Furthermore, this study suggests that to fully understand the experiences of young women accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare services, it is necessary to consider not only individual factors but also contextual factors such as interpersonal relationships and societal norms and values. This study emphasises the importance of autonomy of young women in making decisions about sexual health. Therefore, there is a significant need for comprehensive sexuality education to enhance young women's understanding of their sexual health, improve communication within families and among peers, and shift community attitudes towards recognising the importance of sexual health among young women.