Factors influencing adoption of high risk sexual behaviour by undergraduate students at a private tertiary institution in Gauteng Province, South Africa, in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: While there has been several studies that have been conducted targeting university students atstate owned universities in South Africa, specifically on the impact of HIV/AIDS epidemic,no extensive study was conducted to establish what informs adoption of high risk sexualbehaviour among university students in the context of HIV, STI and unplanned pregnancyepidemics at any of the state owned South African universities, let alone private universities.In order to address this identified gap in the body of knowledge, a cross-sectional studyunderpinned by the 'social norms' theory was undertaken at a private university in theGauteng Province, South Africa to establish why undergraduate students engage in high risksexual behaviour that puts them at risk of contracting HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancy.Quantitative data was collected from 342 students through a questionnaire and qualitativedata was collected from 38 students through the focus group discussions. Findings revealedthat early sexual debut, intergenerational sex, multiple and concurrent partners, unprotectedsex, sex under the influence of alcohol and illegal drugs and transactional sex constitute highrisk sexual behaviour. The study concluded that peer pressure, independence, financial needs,drug and alcohol abuse, fear of being an outcast, need to identify with modernity, lack ofindividual perception of risk, campus culture and sexual partner influence are the factorsinfluencing the adoption of high risk sexual behaviour on campus. Based on the findings andconclusions, recommendations are provided for the development of an HIV preventionprogramme on campus that is aimed at mitigating the negative consequences of theHIV/AIDS, STIs and unplanned pregnancy epidemics.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University