The Health Systems Trust has established a fund to enable the expansion of its research on reproductive health issues. This fund has been established in recognition of the importance of promoting better reproductive health in South Africa. The purpose of the Reproductive Health Research Fund is to financially and technically support health systems research aimed at improving the delivery and demand for reproductive health services.
Many mothers die as a result of complications of pregnancy and child birth.
Many young girls have unwanted pregnancies and many adults have untreated sexually transmitted diseases . Many of these problems are preventable . However reproductive health services in many parts of South Africa are poorly developed and inaccessible to those most in need such as the youth, and those in rural and disadvantaged urban areas. As a consequence, many people do not have the ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive health . If South Africa is to improve its reproductive health services, then research based information is required, that will help us to design and implement improved programmes.