Constructions of sexuality and HIV risk among young people in Venda : implications for HIV-prevention

Abstract

Young people are increasingly engaging in sexual risk behaviours despite continued HIV and AIDS prevention interventions. Literature indicates that no successful prevention strategy for young people is currently available, as certain factors render preventive strategies ineffective amongst young people. This indicated a need for context-specific and culture-specific prevention interventions. The present study explored constructions of sexuality among young people of Venda. Discourse analysis was conducted using focus group discussion data of young people (learners from Grade ten to twelve) and community leaders in rural and urban areas of Venda. The impact of the discourse on young people’s sexual behaviour may inform more successful future HIV prevention interventions. Four predominant discourses were identified from the young people’s constructions: Firstly, the male sexual drive discourse implies that young men need sex to satisfy an uncontrollable biological drive, while young women’s sexuality is enmeshed with love, emotions and relationships; secondly, sex is a commodity. Young women has sex for material gain for own or family survival or in pursuit of modernity; thirdly, traditional hegemonic masculinity implied that sex is a means to attain the status of a real man; and finally, HIV and AIDS was normalised as any other illness and not regarded as a threat significant enough to influence sexual risk behaviours. HIV preventive messages did not influence young people’s sexual risk behaviours. Community leaders constructed young people’s sexual behaviour as immoral. For them, young people’s sense of freedom and human rights lead them to dishonour cultural rules and to engage in risk behaviour. Parents felt disempowered to influence young people’s sexual education and behaviour. Recommendations for more successful prevention interventions include: An abstinence programme aimed at young people in primary schools before they start engaging in sex. Safer sex programmes aimed at young people in secondary schools which include comprehensive sexuality education. Context-specific HIV and AIDS prevention interventions developed with the participation of young people and adults in the community. Combination interventions that include TMC, comprehensive sexuality education and discussions aimed at deconstruction of gender roles. This should run concurrently with parental skills programmes to educate parents on positive parenting and building supportive relationships with their children. The improvement of access to HIV intervention resources through the involvement of local government and traditional kings is recommended.