Researchers aimed to determine the effects of a teenage pregnancy (TP) prevention program for 816 high school students attending 16 KwaZulu-Natal, South African schools through a randomized control trial. Data were collected at baseline and at the 8-month follow-up in 2009. Results were calculated using multivariate analyses of program effects employing Mplus 6, and indicated significantly healthier attitudes, including intentions to abstain from sex whilst at school, plans to communicate with partners about teenage pregnancy, and increased reports of condom use. Researchers thus provide some support for the effectiveness of a TP prevention program that should be further strengthened in a comprehensive approach that includes schools and families.

Gender-based violence has serious consequences for the psychological, physical, and sexual well-being of both men and women. Various gender roles, attitudes, and practices in South Africa create an environment that fosters submission and silence in females and hegemony and coercion in males. One of the expressions of this power inequity is a high prevalence of forced sex, which in its turn is associated with higher risk of HIV infection. This study therefore assessed potential gender differences in beliefs about forced sex and in prevalence of reported forced sex among high school students (N = 764) in KwaZulu-Natal. Results showed that significantly more boys were sexually active (26 %) than girls (12 %) and that boys experienced earlier sexual debut by over a year. Boys also held a more positive view about forced sex than girls since they associated it more often with signs of love, as an appropriate way to satisfy sexual urges, and as acceptable if the girl was financially dependent on the boy. The perception that peers and friends considered forced sex to be an effective way to punish a female partner was also more common among boys. On the other hand, boys were less knowledgeable about the health and legal consequences of forced sex, but no significant differences were found for other sociocognitive items, such as self-efficacy and behavioral intention items. Consequently, health education programs are needed to inform both boys and girls about the risks of forced sex, to convince boys and their friends about its inappropriateness and girls to empower themselves to avoid forced sex.

The cross-sectional study investigated South African rural high school learners' choice of sexual abstinence in order to be able to develop tailored health education messages. All Grade 9 learners from one class at each of 10 randomly selected rural high schools participated. The Integrated Model for Motivational and Behavioural Change was used to elicit attitudes, social influences, self-efficacy and intentions towards sexual abstinence. Chi-square and t-tests were used for bivariate analysis. In total, 454 learners, mean age 16.7 years (standard deviation 1.41) range 14-20 years, participated, of whom 246 (54.2%) were female. When comparing learners reporting abstinence (n=252) with those not abstinent (n=202), abstinent learners were significantly more often females (P<0.005), younger (16.5 years versus 17.1 years, P<0.005) and drank less alcohol (P<0.005). Abstaining girls believed that their friends and parents think that they should abstain from sex, that their friends abstained from sex and that abstinence helped them to mature emotionally. Abstinent boys expressed intentions to abstain from sex until marriage. Targeted intervention research is required to encourage South African rural high school learners to delay their sexual initiation to reduce their risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Different abstinent messages are needed for boys and girls to address the different patterns of behaviour observed.

English This article discusses research using focus groups and personal interviews with rural male youth on gender-based violence. The findings revealed that many of the youth considered relationship violence acceptable, but the article highlights the fluid, multiple and contextual nature of masculinity that surfaced. The significance of these alternative responses for interventions is emphasized. French Cet article commente une recherche menée au moyen de groupes de discussion et d'entrevues personnelles auprès de jeunes hommes de milieux ruraux sur le sujet de la violence sexospécifique. Les résultats révèlent que bon nombre de ces jeunes considèrent acceptable la violence relationnelle, mais l'article met en relief la nature variable, multiple et contextuelle de la masculinité qui s'en est dégagée. L'accent est donc mis sur le sens de ces nouvelles réponses en intervention. Spanish Este artículo discute la investigación utilizando grupos focales y entrevistas personales, con jóvenes varones rurales, sobre violencia de género. Los hallazgos revelan que muchos de los jóvenes consideraron aceptable la violencia en las relaciones, pero el artículo destaca la naturaleza fluida, múltiple y contextual de la masculinidad que sale a la superficie. Se enfatiza la significación de estas respuestas alternativas para las intervenciones.

This study describes the prevalence of virginity testing (VT) amongst rural secondary school students in KwaZuluNatal (KZN), compares the attitudes of students of both sexes to VT, the