Condoms on campus : risky sexual behaviour of students

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the availability of condoms on Stellenbosch University campus and their risk on the sexual behaviour of students with the aim to establishing the student.s perception of the condom use program and their attitude and practices regarding condom use and risky behaviours in order to provide guidelines or feedback to the condoms distribution program stakeholders.The study was motivated by the fact that HIV pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa has highlighted the need for accurate identification of specific sub-groups of the population who place themselves at risk due to their sexual behaviour. Research has indicated that exposure to risk from infections during sexual relations in both men and women are closely related to a number of demographic, socio-economic and socio-cultural factors. Condom usage during sexual intercourse within marriage and within casual relationships has also been seen to be related to a number of different variables. However, research into the factors influencing risky sexual behaviour and condom use has usually targeted specific sub-groups within the population and not a nation as a whole. Furthermore, the spatial variation between groups of individuals within a country has rarely been taken account of in models developed to investigate risky behaviour and condom use.The present study investigated students. perception of the condom distribution programme does influence their attitude and practices regarding the use of condoms and risky behaviour.To confirm or reject our assumptions relating to condom availability on campus risky sexual behaviour of students of Stellenbosch University main campus, 60 first and second year, male and female students were selected by means of census sampling. They were asked some questions pertaining to condom perception on campus and the perception and sexual behaviour of students under the influence of alcohol.The study findings indicate that the majority of students have adequate knowledge on condoms and HIV/AIDS in general. However, when there are drunk it is very difficult for them to make a right sexual decision. The majority of students do not have control over their sexual needs when under the influence of alcohol. The question is whether they are protecting themselves while having sex.The findings also revealed that condom availability on campus does increase sexuality among students. Having a conducted some discussions with participants during the study regarding this issue, most of them indicated that they cannot have need of having sex with their partners but if they know that they can get condoms around the corner then they can not hesitate doing so. Sometimes the students do not engage in sex due to the fear that they may contract HIV/AIDS or create unplanned pregnancies.The study also shows that many student leaders do not have enough information about HIV prevention mode. Most of them cannot talk openly to their peers on how to abstain or talk about condoms in general because they found themselves not in a good position to approach that topic.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University