Perceptions of high-risk sex among men and women attending an STI clinic in Cape Town, South Africa
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2008
TITLE AUTHOR(S): K.Mwaba, L.C.Simbayi, S.C.Kalichman
KEYWORDS: CAPE TOWN, HEALTH SERVICES, RISK BEHAVIOUR, SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 5644
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/5052
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/5052
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
The widespread occurrence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young adults in South Africa suggests that there is a need to increase safe sex practices among those who are sexually active. Given the high rate of HIV infection in the country, individuals who have contracted an STI may be at greatest risk of HIV. The present study sought to establish the perceptions of men and women attending an STI clinic with regard to high-risk sex. A convenience sample of 21 young men and women seeking treatment at a clinic for STIs in Cape Town, was recruited to serve as research participants. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted to ascertain perceptions of high-risk sexual behaviour. The results showed that participants were aware that sex without a condom, inconsistent condom use, casual sex and multiple sex partners constituted high-risk behavior. However, despite this knowledge, participants reported low condom use which was attributed to alcohol intoxication, transactional sex, and coercion by sex partners. The implications of these findings for effective interventions are discussed.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Brief HIV risk reduction intervention for sexually transmitted infection clinic patients who use alcohol in Cape Town
- Sensation seeking and alcohol use predict HIV transmission risks: prospective study of sexually transmitted infection clinic patients, Cape Town, South Africa
- Condom failure among men receiving sexually transmissible infection clinic services, Cape Town, South Africa
- Mediators of behavior change resulting from a sexual risk reduction intervention for STI patients, Cape Town, South Africa
- Sexual exposure to blood and behavioural risks among STI clinic patients in Cape Town, South Africa
- Disclosure of HIV status to sex partners and sexual risk behaviours amongh HIV-positive men and women, Cape Town, South Africa
- Sensation seeking, alcohol use, and sexual behaviours among sexually transmitted infection clinic patients in Cape Town, South Africa
- Coital bleeding and HIV risks among men and women in Cape Town, South Africa
- Alcohol expectations and risky drinking among men and women at high-risk for HIV infection in Cape Town, South Africa
- Recent multiple sexual partners and HIV transmission risks among people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana
- Disclosure decisions and HIV transmission risk behaviour of HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in Cape Town, South Africa
- Methamphetamine use and sexual risks for HIV infection in Cape Town, South Africa
- Methamphetamine use and sexual risks for HIV infection in Cape Town, South Africa
- Stigma and discrimination experiences of HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Cape Town, South Africa
- Heterosexual anal sex activity in the year after an STD clinic visit
- Perceived HIV/AIDS prevalence, burden, and risk, Cape Town, South Africa
- Age-disparate and intergenerational sex in southern Africa: the dynamics of hypervulnerability
- Researching MSM in South Africa: some preliminary notes from the frontlines of a hidden epidemic
- Stress, substance use and sexual risk behaviors among primary care patients in Cape Town, South Africa
- The feasibility of implementing a sexual risk reduction intervention in routine clinical practice at an ARV clinic in Cape Town: results of a pilot study