Sexual behaviour and knowledge regarding sexually transmitted infections among undergraduate students in Durban, South Africa

Background.Several authors have examined the risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI), but no study has yet analyzed it solely in relation with sexual behaviour in women. We analyzed the association of sexual behaviour with STI risk in female university students of healthcare sciences.Methods.We designed a cross-sectional study assessing over three months vaginal intercourse with a man. The study involved 175 female university students, without a stable partner, studying healthcare sciences in Spain. Main outcome variable: STI risk (not always using male condoms). Secondary variables: sexual behaviour, method of orgasm, desire to increase the frequency of sexual relations, desire to have more variety in sexual relations, frequency of sexual intercourse with the partner, and age. The information was collected with an original questionnaire. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) in order to analyze the association between the STI risk and the study variables.Results.Of the 175 women, 52 were positive for STI risk (29.7%, 95% CI [22.9–36.5%]). Factors significantly associated with STI risk (p< 0.05) included: orgasm (not having orgasms →OR = 7.01, 95% CI [1.49–33.00]; several methods →OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.31–1.90]; one single method →OR = 1;p= 0.008) and desiring an increased frequency of sexual activities (OR = 0.27, 95% CI [0.13–0.59],p< 0.001).Conclusions.Women’s desire for sexual activities and their sexual function were significant predictors of their risk for STI. Information about sexual function is an intrinsic aspect of sexual behaviour and should be taken into consideration when seeking approaches to reduce risks for STI.

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Critiquing the Health Belief Model and Sexual Risk Behaviours among Adolescents: A Narrative Review of Familial and Peer Influence

International Journal of Social Science Studies ◽

10.11114/ijsss.v7i6.4518 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 62

Author(s):

Michael C.T. O’Dwyer ◽

Tinashe Dune ◽

John Bidewell ◽

Pranee Liamputtong

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Health Belief Model ◽

Sexual Risk ◽

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Health Belief ◽

Parental Relationships ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Belief Model ◽

The Health Belief Model

Research into the rising rates of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies among adolescents has highlighted the challenge in developing sexual education campaigns that affect behavioural change. Frequent attempts to apply the otherwise robust Health Belief Model to the challenge of high-risk sexual behaviours have yielded confounding results from sexually active teens who discount the seriousness of consequences or their susceptibility to them. Social dynamics involving familial and peer relationships may strongly influence teen sexual risk-taking; the growing population of sexual risk-takers is strongly associated with disengaged family environments and a shift in alliance from family to peer community. This shift in identification to peer groups, in the absence of supportive parental relationships, is correlated with permissive and coercive sexual behaviour and a future of substance abuse, depression, sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy.This paper seeks to explore the correlation between peer interaction and parental relationships and availability, while assessing the predictive value of the Health Belief Model in relation to adolescent high risk sexual behaviour. Doing so can inform research to further clarify the nature of these associations and investigate new insights into adolescent sexual dynamics and new policy and programming approaches to sexual health promotion.

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Sexually transmitted infections and sexual behaviour among commercial sex workers in a rural district of Malawi

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1258/095646203762869197 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 185-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

R Zachariah ◽

M P Spielmann ◽

A D Harries ◽

W Nkhoma ◽

A Chantulo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Sex Workers ◽

Alcohol Intake ◽

Unprotected Sex ◽

Commercial Sex ◽

Commercial Sex Workers ◽

Ulcer Disease ◽

Sexually Transmitted ◽

Targeted Interventions

In Thyolo District, Malawi, a study was conducted among commercial sex workers (CSWs) attending mobile clinics in order to; determine the prevalence and pattern of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), describe sexual behaviour among those who have an STI and identify risk factors associated with 'no condom use'. There were 1817 CSWs, of whom 448 (25%) had an STI. Of these, the commonest infections included 237 (53%) cases of abnormal vaginal discharge, 109 (24%) cases of pelvic inflammatory disease and 95 (21%) cases of genital ulcer disease (GUD). Eighty-seven per cent had sex while symptomatic, 17% without condoms. Having unprotected sex was associated with being married, being involved with commercial sex outside a known rest-house or bar, having a GUD, having fewer than two clients/day, alcohol intake and having had no prior medication for STI. The high levels of STIs, particularly GUDs, and unprotected sex underlines the importance of developing targeted interventions for CSWs and their clients.

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