Sexual attitudes and behavioural patterns of adolescents in an urban area in the Western Cape

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Internationally there is concern about the reproductive health of adolescents. InSouth Africa a growing concern is the rampant sexual activity of underagelearners. This study seeks to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behavioursof a group of adolescents with regard to their psycho-sexual development. Aqualitative study was conducted, with data being collected by using semistructuredinterviews, which were subsequently analysed thematically. The datawas analysed and five themes emerged from the three categories (knowledge,attitudes and behaviour). The five themes that emerged were knowledge aboutHIV/AIDS and venereal diseases, where participants received their knowledgeabout sexual issues, knowledge about conception and pregnancy, attitudesabout sexuality and sexual behaviours. The study found a disparity betweenparticipants' knowledge, attitudes and sexual behaviour. Many participants havenot developed a healthy sexual identity because of many factors that hascontributed to this development. Some of these factors were social, parental,emotional, socio-economic, lack of appropriate knowledge, media andattitudinal influences.The findings indicated that the majority of the participants had a fairly goodknowledge about HIV/AIDS but were less knowledgeable about other venerealdiseases. It appeared that many of the participants did not have reliable sourcesto furnish them adequate answers to sexuality questions. This lack ofinformation had a direct bearing on the formation of their sexual attitudes andbehaviours. There was a marked difference between the sexual practicesreported by the male and female participants. More of the male participantsreported that they engaged in sexual activity as compared to the femaleparticipants. The study also highlighted the interrelatedness betweenknowledge, attitudes and behaviour.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University