This edition, written as South Africa moves from expensive curative health care to a more people-focused primary health-care system, highlights transitional structures and bridges the gap between past and present. Part One focuses on the Government of National Unity and population development programmes, emphasising the role of community nurses in the primary health-care system. Subsequent sections cover factors playing an important role in community nursing, including housing, urbanisation and malnutrition. In accordance with the National Health-care Plan for South Africa, prominence is given to issues such as health education and maternal and child health care. The section on communicable diseases has been updated and takes into account changes in legislation and the latest statistical information. Primary health-care problems at community level are covered in depth. Students and practitioners will benefit from the wealth of information in this new edition.