“A spade was called a spade … ”: Youth and intervention implementers’ perceptions of a resilience-based HIV-prevention intervention for youth in South Africa

Abstract

The youth (15–24 years old) in South Africa remain at high risk of HIV infection despite varied efforts to control the disease. An understanding of the perspectives of relevant stakeholders of HIV-prevention interventions targeting the youth is important to guide research, policy and practice aimed at improving these interventions. This study explores youth and intervention implementers’ perceptions of a resilience-based HIV-prevention intervention (You Only Live Once) aimed at reducing risky sexual behaviours among the youth in South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 young people who participated in the intervention, and four intervention implementers at a not-for-profit organisation in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality, South Africa. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged from the data: (1) Acceptability and impact of the intervention; (2) Factors influencing intervention implementation; and (3) Recommendations to improve intervention implementation. These findings provide insights into the acceptability, impact, barriers and facilitators of resilience-based HIV-prevention interventions for the youth in South Africa and similar contexts, and how implementation of these interventions could be enhanced. The findings can help researchers, policy makers and health care practitioners in the field of HIV prevention to improve interventions targeting young people.