Abstract
M.Cur. (Nursing Education)
A National Family Planning Programme was launched during 1974 by die
Government in the Republic of South Africa (R.S.A). The rendering of the
clinical family planni~g services was assigned to medicalpractitioners and nurses.
Special courses were instituted in the main centres of the R.S.A with the aim of
supplementing knowledge which wasgained by nurses during their basic training.
Since no curriculum can be considered as being perfect, it was intended
withthis study to evaluate the present curriculumand to determine
whether the methods of presentation are effective.
A literature study was conducted and it was found that the family planning
programme is directed towards the improvement of health and not population
control.
Curriculum building was studied in depth and a survey was conducted by means
of a questionnaire. The curriculum, teaching methods and techniques
implemented to prepare nurses to practice as clinical family planning nurses
were researched.
The findings indicated that the course content included subject matter that was
already known to the nurse.
The importance of having training officers to conduct the course who are
proficient in adult teaching became evident.
It is therefore recommended that only certain aspects of the present course be
presented bypersonswho are skilled in adult teaching.