The Reproductive Rights Alliance will assist the state as a "friend of the court" in its defence of the Termination of Pregnancy Act which will be challenged by the Christian Lawyers' Association at the end of this month.

A recent report suggests a strong link between domestic violence and the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among South African women. All too often women who are HIV positive choose to stay in abusive relationships because they need financial security or because they fear no one else will have them. In other instances, women run the risk of contracting HIV from being raped or from abusive husbands who are more likely to have extra-marital affairs. Kerry Cullinan reports.

Februrary 19-25 is Pregnancy Education Week. In a nationwide campaign, the Department of Health is encouraging South African women to take part in antenatal classes as one aspect of ensuring that women experience a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Few township residents have ever met a psychiatrist. But in two Khayelitsha clinics, three women are reaching out to mothers and babies in need of psychological support.

Forensic nurses are going to be trained throughout the country to ensure that rape victims get a better service from the state and that good medical evidence is collected to improve the conviction rate of rapists. This decision has been taken by the Department of Health, which is concerned about reports of rape survivors being treated badly by doctors.