How perceived Australian sexual norms shape sexual practices of East Asian and sub-Saharan African international students in Sydney

Sylvester R Okeke

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-10445-0

Abstract

IntroductionSexual norms, real or perceived, shape young people’s sexual behaviour and may constitute one of the greatest challenges in HIV/STIs prevention among this population. This study used sexual script theory to explore how international students in Sydney, Australia – from traditional cultures of East Asian and sub-Saharan African countries – construct home backgrounds and Australian sexual norms and how this may shape their sexual practices during their studies in Australia.MethodsThe study involved face-to-face and telephone semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were provided by 20 international students who are enrolled in various universities in Sydney. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded into NVivo and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsIdentified patterns in the data showed three themes through which participants perceive sexual norms in Australia as distinctly different from their home country norms. First, participants stated that unlike their home country norms, sexual norms in Australia are permissive. Second, participants hold the view that compared to their home country norms, sex in Australia is largely casual as it is not always attached to love. Some participants revealed that this could shape their own sexual practices during their studies in Australia. Finally, participants noted that compared to their home countries’ norm of sex talk taboo, Australia has an open sexual communication norm; which they believe, enables young people in western societies to easily acquire sexual health information.ConclusionsFindings provide evidence to support a need for contextualized and effective sexual health services for international students that take account of perceptions around sexual norms and how they can be modified to ensure that sexual practices which these students may engage in, will be managed in a safe and responsible manner.

Highlights

Sexual norms, real or perceived, shape young people’s sexual behaviour and may constitute one of the greatest challenges in HIV/sexually transmissible infections (STIs) prevention among this population
Providing responsive preventive, treatment and educational sexual health services to this population, requires a critical understanding of sexual norms that may be shaping their sexual practices. This is important as evidence suggest that international students are not being provided with contextualized sexual health programmes that may address their needs [5, 7, 8] which may include negotiating conflicting home country and Australian sexual norms
To address this research gap, this study uses sexual script theory to explore how international students construct sexual norms around premarital and casual sex, how this may shape their sexual practices while studying in Australia and the implications this may have for HIV/STIs risk and protection

Summary

Methods

The study involved face-to-face and telephone semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were provided by 20 international students who are enrolled in various universities in Sydney. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded into NVivo and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

Methodology

Background

Conclusion