It is crucial that women, especially those living in less developed parts of the world such as Sub-Saharan Africa, have access to termination of pregnancy (TOP) services, according to Dr Helen Rees of the Reproductive Health Research Unit at Chris Hani Barangwanath Hospital. Rees was one of several TOP experts who made submissions at the national oversight hearings into the implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act held in Parliament this week.

Although life is tough, a group of women from rural areas who are living in Khayelitsha say their disabled status won't get them down. They are taking courses in adult basic education to complete missed years of their education at primary and high schools and are producing handcrafts for sale. Theresa Lorenzo, a researcher in Occupational Health at the University of Cape Town, says many women in her research group became disabled as a consequence of domestic violence.

One of the biggest state maternity hospitals in the Western Cape has opened a new unit to allow woman to give birth in a more comfortable and homely environment. For a fee, the new Active Birth Unit at the Mowbray Maternity Hospital in Cape Town offers women the chance to give birth in a warm room with soft music playing instead of in a congested ward. This audio report is in isiXhosa.

The appallingly high incidence of rape in South Africa must be addressed and effective measures implemented not only to treat rape survivors, but to drastically reduce the number of women and children who suffer this trauma. This is according to Dr Lynette Denny, a Specialist Gynaecologist at Groote Schuur Hospital who gave evidence to the Parliamentary health portfolio committee recently. This audio report in isiXhosa and English.

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.