Reproductive Health Issues Emanating from the Children's Act: a Pilot Study: Rights of Children vs Rights of Parents

The study took as its point of departure the Children?s Act No 38 of 2005 that emanated from the Bill of Rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996). This Act has as its primary aims, to promote the preservation and strengthening of families and to give effect to the rights of children as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, including: protection of children from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation and the fact that the best interest of a child are of paramount importance in every matter concerning children. When the Act was introduced, it evoked mixed reactions with certain segments of society applauding the government for its efforts, and others condemning the government?s approach towards reproductive health issues affecting children. The primary aim of the research project was to explore the views of a group of parents in the Johannesburg Metro Region 11 regarding reproductive health care as embedded in the Children?s Act.