scholarly journals Promoting Consistent Condom Use among Young Adults in the Vhembe District, Limpopo, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Namadzavho Joyce Muswede ◽  
Azwihangwisi Helen Mavhandu-Mudzusi

Condoms are considered useful in the prevention of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections including the human immunodeficiency virus. However, condom use is a challenge among young adults in rural areas. This paper reports the views of young adults regarding the strategies which can be utilised for promoting condom use in one of the rural clinics in the Vhembe district, Limpopo, South Africa. This quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in one of the clinics in the Vhembe district. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 372 young adults who came to visit the clinic. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28. Results indicate that condom use among the youth can be promoted though (i) improving the negative attitudes of healthcare providers to condom issuing and use, (ii) involving other stakeholders who have an impact on the use of condoms, and (iii) promoting condom use. Retraining of healthcare providers to improve negative attitudes is a matter of priority. In-service training should focus on disseminating information about patients’ rights. The following recommendations were put forth: enhancement of communication strategies for marketing condom use, broadening sex education in the school curriculum, and improving the negative attitudes of healthcare providers to the promotion of condom use.

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Namadzavho J. Muswede ◽  
Livhuwani Tshivhase ◽  
Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi

Background: Condom use is a critical component of a comprehensive and sustainable approach to the prevention of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (including HIV). Despite government making condoms freely available in the healthcare facilities in Vhembe district, there are reports of an increase in teenage pregnancies and STIs, including HIV, amongst young adults. The aim of the study was to gain an in-depth understanding of condom use promotion and reasons of condom use amongst young adults in Vhembe district, in Limpopo province.Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was used to explore the reasons for promoting condom use amongst young adults themselves and from the perspectives of healthcare providers who are critical role players in condom education and provision. Purposive sampling was used to sample young adults and healthcare providers at three of Vhembe district’s primary healthcare facilities. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted, after which thematic data analysis was used to develop themes and subthemes.Results: Two superordinate themes emerged from data analysis, namely approaches to promote condom use and reasons for condom use. Two themes emerged in respect of approaches for promotion of condom use: information sharing in the form of education, the distribution of informative material, and the adoption of a multi-sectoral approach. Self-protection emerged as a reason for condom use, to prevent disease, pregnancy and ‘u wela’, and was indicative of not trusting a sexual partner.Conclusion: To effectively promote condom use, a multidisciplinary team approach involving nurses, lay counsellors and peer educators need to be strengthened at local primary health facilities in order to facilitate the distribution of condoms and educate young adults on consistent condom use.


Author(s):  
Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi

Background: Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number 6, target 6A focuses on halting and reversing the spread of HIV by 2015. South Africa is amongst the 189 countries that are involved in trying to meet the MDGs. In order to try and achieve this goal, South Africa, through its HIV and AIDS, STI and TB strategic plans has adopted the United Nations vision of ‘Zeros’, which include zero new HIV infections by the year 2015. One of the key interventions for achieving this is improvement in access to condoms.Aim: This article reports on perceptions of Vhembe District young adults regarding condom use.Setting: This study was conducted in one of the rural clinics in Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province: South Africa.Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional design approach was followed. Data were collected using structured questionnaires administered to 372 young adults who came for healthcare services at one of the clinics in Vhembe District.Results: The findings indicated that there is a relationship between positive perceptions toward condom use and actual condom use. People who have positive attitudes toward condoms are also more likely to use them. In contrast, people with a negative attitude towards condoms are less likely to use them during sexual intercourse. Negative attitudes of health care providers were found to be a barrier that prevents sexually active individuals to access condoms in primary health care facilities.Conclusion: With current peceptions towards condom use, Zero new HIV infection will never be achieved. The researcher recommends development of strategies for promoting access and correct use of condoms.Keywords: Condom use, perception, young adults


Sexual Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elona Toska ◽  
Lucie D. Cluver ◽  
Mark Boyes ◽  
Marija Pantelic ◽  
Caroline Kuo

Background Adolescent pregnancy has been linked to adverse outcomes. Most studies proposing risk pathways for adolescent pregnancy in South Africa are qualitative, hypothesising links among age-disparate relationships, reduced condom use and higher pregnancy rates. No known South African studies have quantitatively explored pathways to adolescent pregnancy. Objectives: This study aimed to: (i) identify the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy and (ii) explore a pathway of risk by assessing whether condom use mediated the relationship between age-disparate sexual relationships and adolescent pregnancy. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 447 sexually active girls aged 10–19 years was undertaken in six health districts of South Africa. Multivariate logistic regressions controlled for confounders. Mediation tests used bootstrapping. Results: Consistent condom use (β = –2.148, odds ratio (OR) = 8.566, P ≤ 0.001) and school enrolment (β = –1.600, OR = 0.202, P ≤ 0.001) were associated with lower pregnancy rates. Age-disparate sex (β = 1.093, OR = 2.982, P ≤ 0.001) and long-term school absences (β = 1.402, OR = 4.061, P ≤ 0.001) were associated with higher pregnancy rates. The indirect effect of age-disparate sex on adolescent pregnancy through condom use was significant, irrespective of age, age at sexual initiation, poverty and residential environment (B = 0.4466, s.d. = 0.1303, confidence interval: 0.2323–0.7428). Conclusion: This survey supports hypotheses that inability to negotiate condom use in age-disparate sexual relationships may drive adolescent pregnancy. Interventions addressing these relationships, facilitating condom use and increasing access to sexual health services among adolescents might avert unwanted pregnancies.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. e041503
Author(s):  
Peizhen Zhao ◽  
Weiming Tang ◽  
Huanhuan Cheng ◽  
Shujie Huang ◽  
Heping Zheng ◽  
...  

ObjectivesUnderscreening of HIV and syphilis in clinical settings is pervasive in resource-constrained settings. Heavy patient loads and competing health priorities in these settings inhibit provider’s ability to meet screening coverage targets. The objective of this study was to examine determinants of provider-initiated HIV and syphilis testing uptake at sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in China.DesignA cross-sectional study was performed between July 2016 and December 2016.SettingSeven STD clinics in Guangdong Province, China.ParticipantsHeterosexual STD clinic patients met the inclusion criteria, regardless of their interest in receiving HIV or syphilis testing.Outcome measuresThe syphilis and HIV testing uptake determined by patient receipt of results.ResultsA total of 1943 individuals were recruited in this study. Among those participants, 60.6% (1177/1943) and 74.3% (1443/1943) conducted HIV testing and syphilis testing during the study, respectively, of whom, 2.2% (26/1177) and 21.5% (310/1443) were found to be HIV-positive and syphilis-positive, respectively. The most common reason for rejecting HIV and syphilis testing was a low self-perceived risk of HIV and syphilis infection. After adjusting for covariates, condom use in the last sexual act, consistent condom use in the last 6 months, having paid sex in the last 6 months and having received any kind of HIV/STD-related knowledge during the last 12 years were positively associated with both HIV and syphilis testing uptake.ConclusionsThe low-level of HIV and syphilis testing uptake, alongside with the high-level of engagement in risky sexual behaviours among heterosexual STD clinic patients, warranted a more targeted and intensive behavioural interventions to promote HIV and syphilis testing in this population.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Mpho Magwalivha ◽  
Jean-Pierre Kabue Ngandu ◽  
Afsatou Ndama Traore ◽  
Natasha Potgieter

Diarrhoeal disease is considered an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing areas, and a large contributor to the burden of disease in children younger than five years of age. This study investigated the prevalence and genogroups of human sapovirus (SV) in children ≤5 years of age in rural communities of Vhembe district, South Africa. Between 2017 and 2020, a total of 284 stool samples were collected from children suffering with diarrhoea (n = 228) and from children without diarrhoea (n = 56). RNA extraction using Boom extraction method, and screening for SV using real-time PCR were done in the lab. Positive samples were subjected to conventional RT-PCR targeting the capsid fragment. Positive sample isolates were genotyped using Sanger sequencing. Overall SV were detected in 14.1% (40/284) of the stool samples (16.7% (38/228) of diarrhoeal and 3.6% (2/56) of non-diarrhoeal samples). Significant correlation between SV positive cases and water sources was noted. Genogroup-I was identified as the most prevalent strain comprising 81.3% (13/16), followed by SV-GII 12.5% (2/16) and SV-GIV 6.2% (1/16). This study provides valuable data on prevalence of SV amongst outpatients in rural and underdeveloped communities, and highlights the necessity for further monitoring of SV circulating strains as potential emerging strains.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gladys Matseke ◽  
Karl Peltzer ◽  
Julia Louw ◽  
Pamela Naidoo ◽  
Gugu Mchunu ◽  
...  

The high rate of HIV infections among tuberculosis (TB) patients in South Africa calls for urgent HIV reduction interventions in this subpopulation. While correct and consistent condom use is one of the effective means of HIV prevention among sexually active people, there is insufficient research on condom use among TB patients in South Africa. The aim of this paper was to determine the prevalence of inconsistent condom use among public primary care TB patients and its associated factors using a sample of 4900 TB patients from a cross-sectional survey in three health districts in South Africa. Results indicated that when asked about their consistency of condom use in the past 3 months, 63.5% of the participants reported that they did not always use condoms. In the multivariable analysis, being married (OR=1.66; 95% CI 1.25–2.20) or cohabitating or separated, divorced, or widowed (OR=3.67; 1.85–7.29), lower educational level (OR=0.66; 0.46–0.94), greater poverty (OR=1.60; 1.25–2.20), not having HIV status disclosed (OR=0.34; 0.25–0.48), sexual partner on antiretroviral treatment (OR=0.38; 0.23–0.60), and partner alcohol use before sex (OR=1.56; 1.30–1.90) were significantly associated with inconsistent condom use in the past 3 months. The low proportion of consistent condom use among TB patients needs to be improved.


Sexual Health ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 81 ◽  
Author(s):  
JaNelle M. Ricks ◽  
Angelica Geter ◽  
Richard A. Crosby ◽  
Emma Brown

Background Limited research has targeted HIV risk among heterosexual African-American men in the rural south-eastern United States. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 538 men to assess HIV knowledge, attitudes towards HIV testing and sexual risk behaviour. Results: Fifty-one percent reported consistent condom use in the past 3 months. Monogamous men reported more consistent condom use (t = 3.47, d.f. = 536, P < 0.001). In concurrent partnerships, condom use was inversely related to age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.95–0.998, P = 0.03) and increased with the number of female partners (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.26–1.76, P < 0.001). Conclusions: African-American HIV prevention outreach should include focus on concurrent partnering in rural settings.


BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e016217 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Shafiqur Rahman ◽  
Syed Hanifi ◽  
Fatema Khatun ◽  
Mohammad Iqbal ◽  
Sabrina Rasheed ◽  
...  

Background and objectivesmHealth offers a new opportunity to ensure access to qualified healthcare providers. Therefore, to better understand its potential in Bangladesh, it is important to understand how young people use mobile phones for healthcare. Here we examine the knowledge, attitudes and intentions to use mHealth services among young population.DesignPopulation based cross sectional household survey.Setting and participantsA total of 4909 respondents, aged 18 years and above, under the Chakaria Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) area, were interviewed during the period November 2012 to April 2013.MethodsParticipants younger than 30 years of age were defined as young (or generation Y). To examine the level of knowledge about and intention towards mHealth services in generation Y compared with their older counterparts, the percentage of the respective outcome measure from a 2×2 contingency table and adjusted odds ratio (aOR), which controls for potential confounders such as mobile ownership, sex, education, occupation and socioeconomic status, were estimated. The aOR was estimated using both the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel approach and multivariable logistic regression models controlling for confounders.ResultsGeneration Y had significantly greater access to mobile phones (50%vs40%) and better knowledge about its use for healthcare (37.8%vs27.5%;aOR 1.6 (95% CI1.3 to 2.0)). Furthermore, the level of knowledge about two existing mHealth services in generation Y was significantly higher compared with their older counterparts, with aOR values of 3.2 (95% CI 2.6 to 5.5) and 1.5 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.8), respectively. Similarly, generation Y showed significantly greater intention towards future use of mHealth services compared with their older counterparts (aOR 1.3 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.4)). The observed associations were not modified by sociodemographic factors.ConclusionThere is a greater potential for mHealth services in the future among young people compared with older age groups. However, given the low overall use of mHealth, appropriate policy measures need to be formulated to enhance availability, access, utilisation and effectiveness of mHealth services.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e043941
Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Dhokotera ◽  
Julia Bohlius ◽  
Matthias Egger ◽  
Adrian Spoerri ◽  
Jabulani Ronnie Ncayiyana ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo determine the spectrum of cancers in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with and without HIV in South Africa.DesignCross-sectional study with cancer records provided by the National Cancer Registry (NCR) and HIV records from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).Setting and participantsThe NHLS is the largest provider of pathology services in the South African public sector. The NCR is a division of the NHLS. We included AYAs (aged 10–24 years) diagnosed with cancer by public health sector laboratories between 2004 and 2014 (n=8479). HIV status was obtained through record linkages and text mining.Primary and secondary outcomesWe determined the spectrum of cancers by HIV status in AYAs. We used multivariable logistic regression to describe the association of cancer in AYAs with HIV, adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and calendar period. We imputed (post hoc) the HIV status for AYA with unknown HIV status.Results8479 AYAs were diagnosed with cancer, HIV status was known for 45% (n=3812). Of those whose status was known, about half were HIV positive (n=1853). AYAs living with HIV were more likely to have Kaposi’s sarcoma (adjusted OR (aOR) 218, 95% CI 89.9 to 530), cervical cancer (aOR 2.18, 95% CI 1.23 to 3.89), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.69 to 2.66) and anogenital cancers other than cervix (aOR 2.73, 95% CI 1.27 to 5.86) than AYAs without HIV. About 44% (n=1062) of AYAs with HIV-related cancers had not been tested for HIV.ConclusionsTargeted HIV testing for AYAs diagnosed with cancer, followed by immediate start of antiretroviral therapy, screening for cervical precancer and vaccination against human papilloma virus is needed to decrease cancer burden in AYAs living with HIV in South Africa.


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