Feeling under pressure: perspectives of the meaning of love and sexual relationships amongst young men in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

SOURCE: American Journal of Men's Health
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2019
TITLE AUTHOR(S): T.Manyaapelo, S.Sifunda, R.A.C.Ruiter, A.Nyembezi, B.van den Borne, P.Reddy
KEYWORDS: KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, MEN, RELATIONSHIPS, SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 10819
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/13701
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/13701

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Abstract

This study aimed to explore perspectives on the meaning of love and sexual relations amongst young men in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Gaining insights into these perspectives will help to understand the sexual behaviors of these young men better and to eventually develop more effective HIV prevention interventions. Focus group discussions were conducted in two study areas using a predetermined semistructured discussion guide. The findings indicate that the phenomenon of romantic relationship try-outs together with the idea of 'feeling under pressure' to propose love to more than one woman seem to be accepted practices that often lead to multiple concurrent sexual partners and therefore potentially risky sexual behaviors. The fear of impregnating a woman is seen to be of a more significant concern than acquiring a sexually transmitted infection due to the stigma and embarrassment associated with pregnancy outside marriage. Given these findings, it is recommended that future studies investigate perspectives on sexuality and reproductive health in male populations in great detail prior to the development of behavioral change interventions because failure to do so may hamper well-intended but poorly targeted health interventions.

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