The prediction of condom use intention among South African university students

A questionnaire was administered to 294 sexually active, unmarried undergraduate students to investigate the role of social norms in the prediction of the intention to use condoms. Components of social cognitive theory and the theory of reasoned action and planned behaviour were integrated with those of the Health Belief Model to predict future intention to use condoms with a new partner. Logistic regression analyses of selected risky sexual behaviours on the intention to use condoms showed that, among males, attitudes towards using condoms and the Health Belief Model component of perceived barriers predicted the intention to use condoms. The Health Belief Model component of perceived benefits could not be interpreted. Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived self-efficacy were associated with female students' intention to use condoms. Implications for strategies of HIV/AIDS prevention are discussed.

Prevalence of alcohol use in a rural South African community

Among a community sample of 801 rural South Africans, 22.2% of men and 5.0% of women were classified as high-risk drinkers and 3.3% as with probable alcohol dependence.

RELIGIOSITY, PERSONAL DISTRESS AND MINOR PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY AMONG BLACK STUDENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

The aim of the study was to examine the proposition that religiosity and the related factor, spirituality, contribute to lower personal distress among students. The sample comprised 624 students: 314 Grade 12 secondary school students and 310 third-year social science university students in South Africa. Results indicate that the majority of the students show a high degree of religious belief and religious involvement. Some religious variables – such as being a born-again Christian and considering religion as important – were associated with decreased Perceived Stress. Minor psychiatric morbidity as measured with the Self-reporting Questionnaire (SRQ; WHO, 1994) was positively associated with some religious beliefs and involvement, while meaning and direction in life was inversely associated with the SRQ score. All three religious coping styles were inversely associated with perceived stress. Contrary to expectations it was found that some of the religious coping styles were positively associated with minor psychiatric morbidity, especially the depression scores of the SRQ. Findings show that some religious variables were positively associated with mental health while others were inversely or not related, thus only partially supporting the religion-mental health link.

Characteristics of female sex workers and their HIV/AIDS/STI knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in semi-urban areas in South Africa

The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of female sex workers and their HIV/AIDS/STI knowledge, attitudes and behaviour in semi-urban areas in South Africa. The sample included 70 female sex workers from the Tzaneen and Phalaborwa area in the Limpopo Province. A modified form of snowball sampling known as “targeted” sampling was used for identifying female sex workers. Results showed an inadequate knowledge of HIV prevention methods and some incorrect beliefs about AIDS transmission. Most sex workers reported condom use with their last sex client, inconsistent condom use with paying partners, and had poor condom use with regular partners. One third were drinking alcohol daily, one quarter had had voluntary HIV tests, and three quarters had been exposed to HIV interventions. Findings are discussed and implications for HIV interventions outlined.

Knowledge, barriers, and benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption and lay conceptions of nutrition among rural and semi-urban Black South Africans

This study investigated fruit and vegetable consumption and psychosocial variables among rural and semi-urban Black adults in South Africa. The sample consisted of 200 adults, 100 from a semi-urban and 100 from a rural area chosen by two-stage cluster sampling. Only seven (7%) of the villagers and none of the semi-urban dwellers reported the recommended 5 or more fruit or vegetable servings per day. The majority (63% rural and 58% semi-urban dwellers) indicated that they had 2-4 servings a day. Fruit and vegetable intake was not associated with perceived barriers, perceived health benefits, or diet knowledge, but there was a significant correlation between good perceived eating habits and fruit and vegetable consumption. Villagers perceived more barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption regarding expense, confusing recommendations, and time and effort than semi-urban dwellers. Insensitivity to high exposure was seen in responses to the question about positively regarded nutrients: for vitamins, 54% and 37% and for protein 63% and 53% of semi-urban and rural dwellers, respectively, believed that one cannot consume too much. The majority recognized the essential values of salt and fat. More semi-urban participants did not recognize that salt and fat are dietary essentials and that too much salt or fat is better than none at all.

Some factors in condom use amongst first-year Nigerian University students and black and white South Africans

A questionnaire was administered to 213 sexually active first-year Nigerian university students and 150 Black and 150 White South African adults. Nigerian students gave 90% correct answers on 6 of the 10 items of a measure of condom knowledge (M = 6.1). The most common mistakes with respect to condom use were ignorance about putting a condom on just before ejaculation (37%), the use of an oil-based lubricant with a condom (29%), and when to take off a condom (28%). For the South African sample utility of the Health Belief Model and Theory of Reasoned Action for HIV prevention could be confirmed by intention to use condoms. Race and preventive benefits were predictive for current condom use. Findings have relevant implications for developing culturally diverse HIV intervention programs if confirmed with larger diverse groups.

Psychosocial correlates of the impact of road traffic accidents among South African drivers and passengers

The aim of the study was to investigate the psychosocial consequences and coping strategies among accident victims in South Africa. Participants (138 drivers and 141 passengers) who had been involved in a road traffic accident were approached and interviewed in public places. In both groups the median age group was between 25 years and 34 years. In 34 accidents (12.2%) a family member was killed, in 68 accidents (24.4%) a non-family member was killed in the accident. In 272 accidents 197 (72.4%) persons (both drivers and passengers) were injured and 168 (61.7%) were hospitalized. Eighty-seven drivers (63%) did not perceive themselves at fault and 51 (37%) did. Following the road traffic accident both drivers and passengers showed a significant decline of their well-being. Drivers who perceived themselves to be at fault did not cope better than those not perceiving themselves at fault. Passengers related to the drivers showed more decline in their well-being than those not related. Path analysis for drivers found that holding oneself responsible had a direct, and mediated by self-blame, guilt and family distress, negative effect on personal well-being. In the passengers group, holding the driver or others responsible led, mediated by increased self-blame, feelings of guilt, and family distress, to lower psychological well-being (PWB). Findings have relevant implications for the development of coping strategies to aid victims of road traffic accidents in dealing with their trauma in this African context, which may differ to those in Western societies.

Attitudes towards HIV-antibody testing and people with AIDS among university students in India, South Africa and United States

CONTEXT

Stigmatizing attitudes toward persons with AIDS (PWAs) may reduce people's willingness to have themselves tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)--thereby increasing the risk of transmission.

AIMS

To examine attitudes towards (HIV) testing and determinants of attitudes towards PWAs.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A cross-sectional.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

600 first-year university students from South India, South African and America filled in a self-administered questionnaire. Main outcome measures included an Attitudes towards HIV-Antibody Testing Scale and Readiness to engage in personal forms of contact with People With AIDS. RESULTS indicate that the majority of American and South African students and only 10 percent of the Indian students had been sexually active in the past 12 months. Almost one fifth of the American and South African participants but only 10% of the Indian students admitted to having had an HIV test. American students had a much more positive attitudes toward HIV testing than South African and Indian students. Regression analysis for the Indian student sample identified blaming, irritation and negative attitudes toward homosexuals as independent predictors of readiness to engage in personal contact with PWAs, while the regression analyses for both South African and American students identified pity and irritation as independent predictors of contact readiness with PWAs. Positive HIV testing attitudes were positively associated with contact readiness with PWAs.

CONCLUSION

The findings are important for the role of HIV testing and counselling in campus AIDS programmes. The findings reveal important factors related to HIV testing and suggest strategies for developing effective HIV/AIDS counselling programmes in universities.

Illness cognitions, doctor-patient communication and prescription adherence among first diagnosed hypertensive patients from a rural teaching hospital in South Africa

This study examines the relationship between illness cognitions, doctor-patient communication and the use of prescribed medication among patients first diagnosed with hypertension in the outpatient department of a rural South African teaching hospital. ABSTRAK Hierdie studie ondersoek die verwantskap tussen siekte-kognisies, dokter-pasiënt kommunikasie en die gebruik van voorskrifmedisyne onder pasiënte wat die eerste keer met hipertensie gediagnoseer is, in die buitepasiëntafdeling van ‘n landelike Suid-Afrikaanse opleidingshospitaal.

Health behaviour and school environment among school-aged black and white South African children in the Limpopo Province

The main objective of the ‘Health Behaviour among School-Aged Children’ (HBSC) study was to collect information on health-related behaviour of South African youth. Opsomming Die hoofdoelwit van die studie “Health Behaviour among School-aged Children” (Gesondheidsgedrag van skoolgaande kinders) studie is om inligting in te samel ten opsigte van gesondheidverwante gedrag van die Suid-Afrikaanse jeug. *Please note: This is a reduced version of the abstract. Please refer to PDF for full text.

Health care-seeking behaviour for child illnesses among rural mothers in South Africa: a pilot study

The aim of this study was to examine the health care-seeking behaviour of mothers when their children under five years suffer from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea, fever, cough and worms. Opsomming Die doel van die navorsing was om moeders met siek kinders se gesondheidsgedrag na te vors. Die fokus was op die moeders se pogings om mediese hulp vir hul kinders te bekom. *Please note: This is a reduced version of the abstract. Please refer to PDF for full text.

Illness cognitions, doctor-patient communication and prescription adherence among first diagnosed hypertensive patients from a rural teaching hospital in South Africa

This study examines the relationship between illness cognitions, doctor-patient communication and the use of prescribed medication among patients first diagnosed with hypertension in the outpatient department of a rural South African teaching hospital. Opsomming Hierdie studie ondersoek die verwantskap tussen siekte-kognisies, dokter-pasiënt kommunikasie en die gebruik van voorskrifmedisyne onder pasiënte wat die eerste keer met hipertensie gediagnoseer is, in die buitepasiëntafdeling van ‘n landelike Suid-Afrikaanse opleidingshospitaal. *Please note: This is a reduced version of the abstract. Please refer to PDF for full text.

HIV/AIDS/STD Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviours in a Rural South African Adult Population

The aim of the study was to evaluate data on behavioural indicators in relation to HIV/AIDS/STD prevention and occurrence in a rural adult population in South Africa. A representative community sample of adults (n=398) using a three-stage cluster sampling method was chosen for a household survey, and qualitative data were obtained from adults using ten focus group discussions. The survey sample included 398 adults: 155 (38.9%) male and 243 (61.1%) female, whose ages ranged from 25 to 49 years ( M=37.1 years, SD=12.6). The questionnaire included 71 items on HIV-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. The results indicated a mean HIV/AIDS knowledge score of 6.77 (range: 0 to 9), indicating a moderately adequate knowledge. HIV/AIDS knowledge was identified as a predictor for HIV-risk behaviour. Forty-six percent of the men and 21.4% of the women indicated that they had had a non-regular sexual partner in the last 12 months, and 53.4% of the women and 45.6% men said that they had never used a condom with their non-regular, non-commercial partner during the preceding 12 months. Among female adult women, 15.4% reported having been victims of enforced sex during the last 12 months. There was a high incidence of self-reported genital discharge/ulcers/sores within the preceding 12 months among the participants (19.7% in men and 11% in women). The study's findings are discussed in relation to implications for health education.

Black South African children's understanding of health and illness: colds, chicken pox, broken arms and AIDS

PURPOSE

To examine the understanding of both health and illness (colds, broken arms, chicken pox, AIDS) in the same black South African children

METHOD

The sample included 60 children (30 were 5-year-olds and 30 were 9-year-olds) selected by simple random sampling from a rural primary school. They were interviewed, using a semi-structured interview schedule, about their understanding of health issues and their exposure to learning about health or sickness.

RESULTS

Differences across age in children's expressed understanding of health and illnesses were found. The 9-year-olds were more likely to give objective signs of chicken pox and AIDS than the 5-year-olds. They also knew more about objective symptoms of colds, chicken pox and AIDS, and were more likely to mention non-observable signs of colds and broken arms. Although there were no differences between the two age groups regarding 'knowing' strategies for avoiding illnesses, the older children had a more accurate knowledge about preventive measures than the younger children. The understanding of AIDS followed the same developmental sequence reported for children's understanding of general physical illness.

CONCLUSION

The results have implications for the creation of developmentally appropriate and effective health and AIDS education curricula for primary and elementary grades.

Superstition, risk-taking and risk perception of accidents among South African taxi drivers

The aim of this study was to investigate taxi drivers' superstition and risk perception of accidents as well as risk-taking in an urban area in South Africa. One hundred and thirty drivers of minibuses, so-called "taxis" were interviewed on the basis of: (1) a superstition scale; (2) a risk-taking scale; (3) a list of perceived causes of road traffic accidents. Drivers showed largely superstitious attitudes and expressed a high degree of risk-taking behavior. Superstition was positively correlated with the number of self-reported accidents the drivers had been involved in and the number of accidents they had witnessed. Path analysis revealed a direct path from superstition to accident involvement while the influence of formal education was negligible. Risk-taking was inversely correlated with driving experience and the number of accidents witnessed but not so with the number of accidents involved in. There was no clear pattern of associations between superstition and risk-taking and perceived causes of accidents. Superstition and risk-taking were slightly and inversely correlated with each other. It is concluded that superstition represents an attitude that is associated with a driver's accident risk, and further research on superstitious attitudes among South African drivers is advocated.

Depressive symptoms in relation to alcohol and tobacco use in South African university students

A questionnaire was administered to 793 randomly chosen Black university students whose ages ranged from 18 to 25 years. Analysis of variance suggested the association between depressive symptoms and alcohol use but not with tobacco use; however, alcohol and tobacco use were highly correlated. Regression analysis identified drinking status as predictor for depressive symptoms.

Smokeless tobacco and cigarette use among black secondary school students in South Africa

This study was conducted in 2001 with the aim of providing data on black South African secondary school students' tobacco use status, knowledge, and attitudes. The sample included 330 Grade 10 and 382 Grade 12 secondary school pupils chosen at random from six rural secondary schools in one of the regions in the Northern Province of South Africa. Results show a prevalence of 9.1% current smokers among boys and 5% among girls, and 8.4% current snuff users among girls and 3.9% among boys. The mean age of onset to take snuff was 12.5 years and that for smoking cigarettes 14.8 years. Adolescents who reported that some family member or their peers used tobacco were more likely to be users of tobacco. Two-thirds of the current snuff users believed that using snuff was safer than smoking cigarettes. Knowledge was found to be related to attitude but not with tobacco use behavior. Awareness of the adverse effects of such tobacco habits was poor and intervention programs to curb tobacco use is required.

The Structure of Values among Northern Sotho Speaking People in South Africa

The aim of this study was to compile a culture specific taxonomy of human values in Northern Sotho. Two raters extracted a comprehensive list of value descriptive nouns from two Northern Sotho dictionaries. The list comprised a total of 210 terms. Four hundred individuals, 256 men and 144 women, from the Limpopo Province of the Republic of South Africa, participated. Their mean age was 24.6 years (SD = 7.9). The participants rated these concepts on an 11-point-scale with regard to their subjective importance as guiding motives in life. The principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded five factors which explained 42.3% of total variance: (I) Religiosity and Support, (II) Solidarity (ukuzwdana, ubunye or ubudlelwane), (III) Conformity and Benevolence, (IV) Leadership and Achievement, and (V) Human Enhancement. With respect to cross-cultural comparisons the outcome of the study shows that in Northern Sotho, religious themes and social commitment play a more important role than in German, and that religious issues correlate with social concerns. The other dimensions share some aspects with the German factors but mainly reflect the religious and collective values of traditional African culture.

Attitudes and practices of doctors toward domestic violence victims in South Africa

Our study intended to ascertain doctors' attitudes and practices toward domestic violence in a sample of 402 doctors randomly chosen for a mail survey from a list of registered medical practitioners in South Africa. We found that the mean number of patients treated for domestic violence per month was 11.4 (SD = 13.4); for White doctors 15.8, African Black 6.2, and for Asian doctors 5.3. The high frequency of domestic violence detected in this sample seems to reflect national surveys on domestic violence. Most doctors believed that they should play a role in prevention and treatment, and their attitudes toward victims of domestic violence were generally sympathetic and supportive. Male doctors and long-serving practitioners tended to have more conservative views of the causes and attitudes of spousal assault and of the doctors' role in prevention. Only 9.7% of the doctors had received any training on domestic violence. Further research is needed to establish the prevalence of domestic violence in women presenting to medical practitioners and to investigate how the problem currently is being addressed.

Healthy dietary practices among black and white South Africans

OBJECTIVES

To investigate 5 healthy dietary behaviors among Black and White South Africans.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey with randomly selected participants.

SETTING

Two urban communities in the Northern Province of South Africa.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred fifty Black and 250 White South Africans were chosen by a 1-in-20 systematic random telephone number sampling from the directories of one formerly Black and one formerly White urban area.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Measures on dietary behavior, attitudes toward health benefits, risk awareness, and internal health locus of control were administered over the telephone.

RESULTS

The level of healthy dietary habits was found to below; lower among Whites than among Blacks. One fifth (20.8%) of Whites and one third (33.6%) of Blacks reported weights that translated into a BMI above 25, and 3.6% of Whites and 14% of Blacks reached a BMI above 30. Significant univariate associations with healthy dietary habits were identified for health benefits, BMI, being unmarried and, for Blacks, being a member of a healing church. In multivariate analysis, age, Black race, and female gender were significant predictors for healthy dietary habits.

CONCLUSION

Results give insights into culturally diverse dietary health behavior practices and the factors that influence them, which have practical implications for dietary health pro motion.