Narratives of young black men on barriers to health care and poor health care seeking behaviours at a university setting: a qualitative study

Sinakekelwe Khumalo,Musawenkosi Mabaso,Tawanda Makusha,Myra Taylor

doi:10.1186/s12913-021-06470-9

Abstract

BackgroundInstitutions of higher learning provide education, training, independence and life-long skills for young people. However, for students to achieve their optimal growth and intellectual development they need to be healthy psychologically, mentally and physically. This can be achieved through the development of effective health programs for all university students. This qualitative study was designed to explore Black male students’ perspectives and experiences regarding the utilization of on-campus health services at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.MethodsThe study population was selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using four focus group discussions (FGDs) with 36 participants and three key informant interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify the key patterns and themes that emerged from the data.ResultsEmerging themes included poor knowledge and awareness, negative perceptions and attitudes, fear and lack of privacy, and negative experiences leading to poor access and utilization of campus health services. The findings suggested a need for more advocacy and awareness campaigns especially among first year students, campaigns for normalization of sexual health, addressing HIV stigma and discrimination, providing youth friendly services to improve students’ use of sexual health services, and ultimately, their overall health and well-being.ConclusionsThe findings give valuable insights from male students on the barriers and potential solutions to campus health services and highlight where improvements can be directed to increase access and use of health services by the study population.

Highlights

In South Africa, over one million students are enrolled in universities while 700 000 students are registered at more than 50 technical vocational education training institutions and an additional of 90 000 students are registered at the many private higher education institutions around the country [1]
The main themes that emerged from the focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviews are grouped under four categories, namely, lack of knowledge and awareness, negative perceptions and attitudes, fear and lack of privacy, and negative experiences leading to poor access and utilization of campus health services
Lack of knowledge and awareness In the FGDs with the male students it became evident that most of them did not know Campus Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS Support Unit (CHASU) and the services that were provided by the unit

Summary

Introduction

In South Africa, over one million students are enrolled in universities while 700 000 students are registered at more than 50 technical vocational education training institutions and an additional of 90 000 students are registered at the many private higher education institutions around the country [1]. Institutions of higher learning are places where young people receive their education, training, and develop independence and life-long skills [2]. Many programs in institutions of higher learning have focused on providing knowledge, awareness and HIV related practices. Such programs have been criticized for failing to adequately promote behavior change among university students [7, 8]. Institutions of higher learning provide education, training, independence and life-long skills for young people. For students to achieve their optimal growth and intellectual development they need to be healthy psychologically, mentally and physically This can be achieved through the development of effective health programs for all university students. This qualitative study was designed to explore Black male students’ perspectives and experiences regarding the utilization of on-campus health services at the University of KwaZuluNatal

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion