Perceptions of South African Emerging Adult FET College Students on Sexual Practices in Relation to Religion

Abstract

HIV and AIDS are rapidly spreading amongst the world’s 15- to 24-year age group, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite vigorous government interventions and campaigns, 10 % of South African youth in the age cohort 15–24 are infected with HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, for the first time in history the world has its largest number of individuals under the age of 30 years. Researchers are desperately seeking a solution and have found religion to play an important role in moderating risky sexual behaviour amongst youth. This exploratory qualitative study aims to increase our understanding of emerging adult Further Education and Training (FET) students’ perceptions of the role of religion and religious beliefs in their sexual decision-making and practices. The qualitative data emerged from five focus group discussions, each consisting of 12 heterosexual emerging adult FET college students aged 18–24 years, selected using random sampling. Participants were representative of all the major South African racial groups (Blacks, Whites, Coloured and Indians) as well as different religious and cultural groupings. Secularisation theory was used as a theoretical framework for this study. These focus group discussions revealed the following themes: Theme 1—religious institutions need to embrace change in order to become effective social agents of change. Theme 2—a need for open discussion and communication concerning current issues related to young people’s sexual health (by religious institutions/religious leaders). Theme 3—perceptions of religion’s negative sanctions towards sexual behaviour. Theme 4—religious leaders’ indifference and abdication of responsibility to the problems that youth face. Theme 5—religion and condom-related beliefs. Theme 6—perceptions of religious leaders as role models. Theme 7—emerging adults general concern for the moral decay of society. Theme 8—perceptions of whether religion has an influence on young people’s sexual decision-making and practices.

Do Schools Affect Unsafe Sexual Behaviors among High School Students in Boyolali, Central Java? A Multilevel Analysis Approach

“…The results of this study indicated that a low understanding of religion can increase risky sexual behavior. It was supported by a study done by Moodley (2017) which argued that religion has an important role in moderating risky sexual behavior among adolescents, perceptions of religion understanding have an influence on sexual decision making and practice in adolescents. The same idea was expressed by Agardh et al, (2011), showing that 46% of men and 23% of women had three or more sexual partners, related to religion which emerged as an important determinant of sexual behavior among adolescents, this finding was related to the increasing number of demands in religion guidance on premarital sex in adolescents in many countries with high risk of HIV/AIDS.…”

“…Descriptive analysis showed a high risk of contracting to sexually transmitted disease and unplanned pregnancies related to moderate to low levels of knowledge about sexual health (Morales et al, 2018). A study conducted by Albertos et al, (2016), a questionnaire answered by 6208 adolescents showed that the greater the knowledge, the lower the frequency of risk behavior among adolescents, and vice versa, if the knowledge was low then the frequency of risky behavior was high.…”

Awareness and Practice of Public School Core Values among Junior High School Students

“…The rating indicates that regardless of the students' religion, family structure, and sex, they share similar perceptions of the core value practice. Their core value practice does not vary according to these demographics, as supported by Shorofi and Arbon [56] and Moodley [57]. The very high awareness assessment could influence the practice rating, as manifested in the descriptive results.…”

Practices for the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among University Students

“…They add that the participants' skepticism about the influence of religion on their sexual practices may reflect a broader skepticism in social structures, present in the adult development phase. 14 In the context of sexuality, it is known that, from the 1960s, sexual or sex-related changes began to take place, consolidating a sexual revolution. There was an increase in non-marital sexual activities and the most important expression was that men and women begin their sexual encounters at an increasingly early age, reinforced by the more advanced age to marry.…”