Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health South African Medical Students’ Association (SAMSA) Vikar Singh

SAMSA dates back to the 1960’s, previously called “The Association for Medical Students South Africa/ AMSSA” Recently the Association ran from 2001 until 2010 at which it dissolved as a national body Subsequently, in 2013, a group of medical students from across the country came together to initiate the re-establishment of SAMSA Please visit the organisation website for more information on the organisation and its activities : www.SAMSAmed.co.za

SAMSA SAMSA is a registered Non-Profit Company as per the Company’s Act 71, 2008 Four Pillars of SAMSA: 1. Student Representation 2. Outreach 3. Collaboration 4. Professional Development A platform enabling medical students to be a force of positive change in the nation

Current Associate Organisations International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) Largest organisation representing medical students worldwide and represents more than 1.2 million medical students from 123 countries. Please visit the organisation website for more information : www.ifmsa.org SAMSA SLeMSA Le Souk IFMSA-Kurdistan

South African Medical Association (SAMA) Currently the major representative body for healthcare professionals in South Africa. SAMA is a close associate of SAMSA and we do integrate and interact with SAMA on a regular basis.

NATIONAL OFFICERS OF STANDING COMMITTEES SAMSA Structure SAMSA NATIONAL NEC NATIONAL OFFICERS OF STANDING COMMITTEES NEC – National Executive Committee

Standing committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health Including HIV/AIDS (SCORA)

SCORA FOCUS AREAS: Comprehensive Sexuality Education Violence against women Maternal Health Access to safe abortion, Combating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS

Adolescent Views on SRHR

Formal high school education Knowledge from parents Current Life orientation curriculum only includes 2 hours of sexual and reproductive health topics from grades 10 – 12. Knowledge from parents Knowledge from parents is often inadequate due to cultural and social stigma ADOLESCENT KNOWLEDGE ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Information from health care facilities Improvement is youth friendly health facilities and improvement in attitudes of health care workers. Gathering knowledge from friends and media Often is the only avenue of gaining SRH knowledge and could be distorted

FANTASTIC study conducted in Greater Giyani Municipality, Limpopo province titled : “Factors influencing adolescent pregnancy rate” According to the study: 60.7% of participants felt that sexual knowledge they receive at school seemed inadequate. 72.1% of participants felt that information shared to health workers did not remain confidential, and Less than half of all participants said nurses provide information on contraception , and felt that could discuss menstrual problems with nurses.

Medical Curricula Medical curriculum includes minimal training on psychological care and needs (SRH) of Adolescents, LGBTI individuals, and abortion care. These topics are even stigmatised within the Health care fraternity. A study conducted at UCT and WSU medical schools on abortion provision found that 11% of participants would not refer a patient under any circumstances to another abortion proivder, whilst 17% would discourage other health care workers to provide abortions. (WE STILL HAVE SO MUCH TO DO!!!) UCT – University of Cape Town WSU – Walter Sisulu University

Moving Forward Dialogue and positive discussion is key This includes improved SRH learning and dialogue that is age appropriate in school curriculum and improved training of teachers, medical doctors and nurses to optimally deal with SRH issues.

Annually, 28 September marks the Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion. The South African Medical Students Association (SAMSA) – Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health including HIV/AIDS (SCORA) , held a workshop on Maternal Health and Access to Safe and Legal Abortion to commemorate this day. The event saw more than 50 medical and nursing students as well as noted individuals from the fields Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Sexual and Reproductive Health come together to present and discuss on numerous topics with Maternal Health and Abortion.

Other SAMSA activites Regular Blood Drives

Thank you