Sexuality of black South African university students in the context of HIV/AIDS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to better understand the sexuality of youth in the context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. The sample included 206 male and 202 female third-year African/black South African university students, with a mean age of 22.5 years (SD = 1.9), chosen from one university in a classroom setting. Results indicate that more women than men engage in steady relationships lasting on average more than a year, while most men and many women have sexual affairs and also concurrent relationships outside the steady relationships. Much of sexual intercourse did not take place in steady relationships but in concurrent or serial relationships. While almost all students were sexually experienced a significant minority did not currently wish to be in a steady relationship. There was a lack of condom use and moderate HIV risk perception. By better linking HIV prevention to research on human sexuality, it should prove possible to advance the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. Keywords: attitudes, condom use, HIV risk, relationship, sexual behaviour, youth Journal of Psychology in Africa 2005, 15(1): 17–24