The page number in the footer is not for bibliographic referencingwww.tandfonline.com/ojfp 42 RESEARCH ARTICLE ABSTRACTS South African Family Practice is co-published by Medpharm Publications, NISC (Pty) Ltd and Taylor & Francis, and Informa business. S Afr Fam Pract ISSN 2078-6190 EISSN 2078-6204 © 2016 The Author(s) RESEARCH South African Family Practice 2016; 1(1):1–5 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2016.1223794 Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License [CC BY-NC 3.0] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0 The role of locus of control in nyaope addiction treatment L Fernandesa* and KE Mokwenaa a Department of Public Health, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa *Corresponding author, email: lucy_fernandes@embanet.com Background: Nyaope addiction is a significant health and social problem affecting some South African communities. With reported nyaope rehabilitation success rates of less than 3% and estimated dropout rates of 40%, improvement in the rehabilitation rates is essential. As locus of control (LOC) is a recognised predictive factor in the onset of substance use and rehabilitation outcomes, a rehabilitation programme aligned to the LOC orientation of the user could result in improved recovery outcomes. This study aimed to determine the LOC of nyaope users. Methods: Consenting adult male and female nyaope users voluntary participated in this quantitative study. After convenient sampling,  115 nyaope users admitted to drug rehabilitation centres registered and funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development and 106 nyaope users from the streets of urban areas of Tshwane completed a self-administered validated questionnaire. LOC orientation was determined by giving participants 13 statements from which they had to choose the option that best described their situation in relation to drug addiction. Results: A total of 24.5% (47/192) of the respondents could be classified as having an external LOC orientation while 75.5% (145/192) were classified as having an internal LOC orientation. Conclusions: By determining the LOC orientation of a nyaope user, rehabilitation programmes could be aligned to suit the personality of the user leading to a better chance of successful recovery with fewer cases of readmission. Keywords: drug addiction, locus of control, nyaope, treatment Introduction Substance abuse is a universal social problem, which has a negative impact on the health of the user, the immediate environment of the user, and the society as a whole.1 It is estimated about 15% of South African youth are susceptible to drug abuse2 and that exposure to the designer drug ‘nyaope’ is very common.3 Nyaope, which is available for about R30 to R45 per hit (±$3), by and large comprises 10–70% third-grade heroin to which a variety of substances are added.4 As nyaope is one of the cheapest illicit drugs widely available in South Africa it is easily accessible to many young people who resort to criminal activities in order to obtain money for their next fix. This drug cocktail is mixed with cannabis, heated and the fumes are inhaled, and of late this mixture is also injected directly into the veins.5 It is claimed that a person can get addicted to nyaope after using it for the first time.6 The problem of nyaope addiction is further compounded by the high levels of unmet substance abuse treatment needs, particularly within the poorer South African communities,7 as well as the high cost of medication required for the withdrawal symptoms associated with heroin addiction.8 Rehabilitation, which can take between 12 and 15  months, is possible9 but requires a multidisciplinary professional approach. What is of concern is that South African studies have reported that the number of treatment admissions to rehabilitation centres has increased significantly over the years with a steady increase in treatment demand for young people below 20 years of age.10–12 Also, treatment for clients in rehabilitation centres continues to be a challenge as dropout rates between 2% and 40% or higher are seen.12 The psychological variable locus of control (LOC), which evolved from Bandura’s Social Learning Theory,13 is recognised as a predictive factor in the onset and continuous use of substances among adolescents.14 LOC, which can be either internal or external, refers to the individual’s beliefs regarding the relationships between action and outcome, and this explains how people actively deal with difficult circumstances in their lives.15 Individuals with a higher internal LOC orientation believe and expect that they will determine their own future because of their own actions, i.e. they are actively in control over what happens to them, while those with a higher external LOC orientation do not expect to have any control or influence over their future and lives, believing that the outcome is a result of external or impersonal forces such as luck, prayer, fate or powerful others.16 By distinguishing between the two personality characteristic orientations, i.e. external vs. internal LOC orientation of the nyaope user, rehabilitation programmes could be aligned to suit the personality17 leading to a better chance of success of recovery with fewer cases of readmission. The aim of this study was to determine the LOC orientation amongst nyaope users. Materials and methods Nyaope users admitted to drug rehabilitation centres registered and funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development located in Tembisa, Ebony Park, Soshanguve, Hammanskraal and Cullinan and nyaope users from the streets of urban areas of Ga- Rankuwa, Soshanguve and Hammanskraal formed the study population. A sample of convenience was done amongst clients from the rehabilitation centres. Arrangements were made with the Chief Executive Officers and management of the different centres to collect data on a pre-determined day. On the arranged day the eligible clients were asked to assemble in a room allocated by S Afr Fam Pract 2016; DOI:10.1080/20786190.2016.1223794Abstract (Full text available online at www.tandfonline.com/ojfp) South African Family Practice is co-published by Medpharm Publications, NISC (Pty) Ltd and Taylor & Francis, and Informa business. S Afr Fam Pract ISSN 2078-6190 EISSN 2078-6204 © 2016 The Author(s) RESEARCH South African Family Practice 2016; 1(1):1–6 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2016.1223797 Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License [CC BY-NC 3.0] http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0 Self-reported knowledge and use of emergency contraception among women presenting for termination of pregnancy O Osa-Izeko*, RD Govender and AJ Ross Department of Family Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa *Corresponding author, email: oroscope2000@yahoo.com Background: Emergency contraception (EC) is widely accepted as a safe method of preventing conception following unprotected coitus. Use of EC has been promoted in South Africa, yet uptake among women appears to remain low. Aim: The aim of this study was to access knowledge and use of EC among women presenting for termination of pregnancy at a district hospital in KwaZulu-Natal. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Data were collected from women attending a termination of pregnancy (ToP) service at a district hospital using a questionnaire and analysed descriptively. Results: A total of 218 women participated, of whom 25% were under 20 years of age and 87% were single. Reported knowledge of EC was good with 70% of participants indicating that they knew about EC. However, knowledge around EC was not complete, with less than 50% knowing the time interval between intercourse and EC action and some believing that EC acted by inducing an abortion. Reported usage of EC was only 40%. Conclusion: This study revealed that there is much more to be done to enhance knowledge and use of EC in this context. Reasons for the discrepancy between knowledge and usage need further exploration. Keywords: emergency contraception, KwaZulu-Natal, pregnant women, self-reported knowledge, termination of pregnancy Introduction This descriptive study focuses on the self-reported knowledge and use of emergency contraception (EC) among women attending an urban hospital in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, for termination of pregnancy (ToP). KwaZulu-Natal is one of the most populous provinces in South Africa with over 9500 ToPs accounting for 3.6% of all pregnancies in the province in 2014.1 It would therefore be beneficial to enhance prevention of pregnancy strategies such as EC alongside strengthening availability of ToP services. Attention to provision of all forms of contraception for women is a global priority; having access to multiple contraceptive choices is in keeping with Sustainable Development Goals 3.7 and 5B, which aim to improve both maternal and reproductive health.2 EC is one type among the armamentarium of contraceptives, and is designed to prevent pregnancy following unprotected coitus. Broadly there are two different types of EC available in South Africa: (a) oral (also known as the ‘morning-after pill’); and (b) mechanical barriers (the intrauterine contraceptive device or IUCD).3,4 Although EC should be administered as soon as possible after unprotected sexual intercourse, it is effective for up to 120 hours thereafter. National Guidelines on Contraception include recommendations that family planning clinics provide a variety of types of contraception, including EC.3 In 2000, in support of enhancing the specific availability of EC, prescriptions for EC were rescheduled by the South African Medicines Council, making it available in public hospitals and pharmacies without a doctor’s prescription.3–5 Recognising that merely enhancing availability was insufficient to enhance usage, a National Emergency Strategic Meeting on contraception was held in 2005, which identified the need to improve women’s knowledge about contraception in general and their knowledge on the use of EC.4 With 42 million abortions  carried out worldwide each year (22 million safely and 20 million unsafely)6 and over 45  745 ToPs done annually in South Africa,7 there is a pressing need for a comprehensive contraceptive programme to prevent unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and reduce the high mortality in Africa associated with the practice of unsafe abortion.7,8 Such a strategy for the provision of contraception is important, as many unplanned pregnancies and ToPs could be prevented if safe and effective contraception were available to all who are sexually active. Such a strategy would also enhance the autonomy of women around their reproductive choices. EC in particular provides women with a safe means of preventing pregnancy following unprotected coitus or potential contraceptive failure. For many, access to contraception (including EC) is a rights issue, with women having a right to contraception (including EC) that is accessible from a convenient location without intrusive questions about their sex life, age or morals.4,9,10 Additionally, every child has the right to be a wanted child and not to enter this world because his/her mother was denied access to EC. Increasing access to all forms of contraception, including EC, may thus act as a surrogate marker for broader issues such as social justice for females and for children. Despite a need for effective strategies to enhance EC accessibility as one component of ensuring access to safe and effective contraception, there have been few recent studies on EC in a South African context. In a study carried out in the Western Cape in 2007, only 15% of 831 sexually active women in the sample spontaneously mentioned EC as an option following unprotected coitus, and only 30% had ever heard of EC.11 In a study among university students in Durban in 2006 only 21% of the women who participated in the study had ever used EC.12 A South African S Afr Fam Pract 2016; DOI:10.1080/20786190.2016.1223797Abstract (Full text available online at www.tandfonline.com/ojfp)