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Knight L, Humphries H, Van der Pol N, Ncgobo N, Essack Z, Rochat T, van Rooyen H. 'A difficult conversation': community stakeholders' and key informants' perceptions of the barriers to talking about sex and HIV with adolescents and young people in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. CULTURE, HEALTH & SEXUALITY 2023; 25:1725-1740. [PMID: 36803644 PMCID: PMC10439967 DOI: 10.1080/13691058.2023.2178674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence and young adulthood are important periods of transition and therefore for action and intervention to ensure future sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Caregiver-adolescent communication about sex and sexuality is a protective factor for SRH, but there are often barriers to this. Adults' perspectives are limited within the literature but important as they should lead this process. This paper uses exploratory qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 40 purposively sampled community stakeholders and key informants to explore their insights into the perceived, experienced or expected challenges adults' experience when having these conversations within a high HIV prevalence, South African context. Findings suggest that respondents recognised the value of communication and were generally willing to try it. However, they identified barriers such as fear, discomfort and limited knowledge and perceived capacity to do so. They show that in high prevalence contexts adults grapple with their own personal risks, behaviours and fears that may affect their ability to have these conversations. This demonstrates the need to equip caregivers with the confidence and ability to communicate about sex and HIV, alongside managing their own complex risks and situations to overcome barriers. It is also necessary to shift the negative framing of adolescents and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Knight
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Belville, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Hilton Humphries
- Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- Department of Psychology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Natasha Van der Pol
- Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Nkosinathi Ncgobo
- Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Zaynab Essack
- Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- South African Research Ethics Training Initiative (SARETI), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Tamsen Rochat
- Faculty of Health Sciences, SAMRC/WITS Developmental Pathways to Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Heidi van Rooyen
- The Impact Centre, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
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Persisting Effects of a Social Media Campaign to Prevent Indoor Tanning: A Randomized Trial. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022; 31:885-892. [DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-21-0059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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