Teenage Sexuality, HIV Risk, and the Politics of Being “Duted”: Perceptions and Dynamics in a South African Township

Hlabangane, Nokuthula

doi:10.1080/07399332.2014.907295

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The likes of Mgwaba and Maharaj ( 31 ) have characterised the existence of multi-party sexual networks as being about ukujola whereupon men expect immediate sexual gratification, in lieu of being ridiculed, by their peers, for planning ahead by keeping condoms or waiting for a future uncertain date to consummate the relationship. Whereas earlier literature claimed that men do not like to use condoms because they do not enjoy sex with condoms; through condom-less sex with women they consider attractive, young men are able to gain prestige amongst their peers, ‘a homosocial status derived from sleeping with high-status women’, that consolidates masculinity ( 27 , 32 ). It could, therefore, be argued that the ability to make the will of women pliable enough to consent to unprotected sex is a schema that is critical to the enactment of masculinities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This shift in attitudes, a rejection of transactional sexual relationships between younger women and older men, has been noted before. For instance, in Hlabangane ( 27 ), blessers were said to be growing weary of the susceptibility of young women to contract HIV to the extent that it would be rare for a blesser to insist on having condom-less sex with blessees. The young women, however, did not express the same level of scrutiny to and suspicion for the young men they also enter into sexual relationships with.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The dynamics of sexual risk amongst South African youth in age-disparate relationships

Qoza

Heerden

Essack

2023

Front. Reprod. Health

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IntroductionSouth Africa has the highest burden of HIV in the world with over 8 million people living with HIV. Young women and girls account for a quarter of new HIV infections while making up only 10% of the population. A key driver of HIV incidence is transactional and survival sex between adolescent girls or young women and older men (the latter referred to as ‘sugar-daddies’ or ‘blessers’). This paper expands on the existing literature on age-disparate and intergenerational relationships to provide social and behavioural interpretations of how young men, commonly omitted from studies on this topic, and women in concurrent relationships with both their peers and older partners perceive and navigate sexual risk.MethodWe conducted a qualitative study in a rural setting of uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, with purposively selected male and female participants aged 18–24 years old in age-disparate relationships. Semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore existing information, motivations, and behavioural practices around relationships and sexual risk.ResultsThe themes and related sub-themes found through IPA included the following: (1) navigating dating: narratives that show a strong preference for being in an age-disparate relationship; the challenges that young people face when choosing an older person as a side partner; and social media applications seen as creating opportunities to meet side partners; and (2) the distribution of love and trust in a multi-party sexual network: condom (mis)use differentiates between straights—those in a serious relationship—and sides; and the power of eye-test seroguessing, the praxis of testing people visually for HIV in nullifying existing knowledge about sexual and reproductive health risk.DiscussionThis research offers an understanding of how schemas of non-condom use are organised. We observed that while condom-less sex is often viewed as essential to building social capital in a serious relationship, it is not the only factor that determines sexual relationship power. Eye-test seroguessing not only develops consortium (trust, reciprocity, and solidarity), but it fulfils the psycho-social need to belong to a network of serious relationships. Moreover, it is critical to the enactment of masculinities because it consolidates femininity to keep men happy, i.e., by being passive in the sexual encounter, women constrain their self-efficacy to act contrary to the conventions of reputable women. Therefore, it is plausible that in the serosorting that occurs prior to unprotected sexual acts, the power of eye-test seroguessing limits the ability to engage in safe sexual practices.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The dynamics of sexual risk amongst South African youth in age-disparate relationships

Qoza

Heerden

Essack

2023

Front. Reprod. Health

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“…Finally, our findings demonstrate notable challenges facing adolescent girls in Soweto, described as coming from “broken families.” The multitude of threats facing girls in such communities, including sexual violence, HIV, and other health concerns, have been documented. (54) These challenges highlight the relevance and importance of programs like SKILLZ Street to such communities, as well as the need for programs to be tailored to the local contexts in which they are implemented. In light of these challenges, we note positive unintended effects of the program on school attendance, which has been shown to be a protective factor against HIV infection among adolescent girls in South Africa.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking at-risk South African girls to sexual violence and reproductive health services: A mixed-methods assessment of a soccer-based HIV prevention program and pilot SMS campaign

Merrill¹,

Merrill²,

Hershow³

et al. 2018

Evaluation and Program Planning

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Grassroot Soccer developed SKILLZ Street-a soccer-based life skills program with a supplementary SMS platform-to support adolescent girls at risk for HIV, violence, and sexual and reproductive health challenges. We conducted a mixed-methods assessment of preliminary outcomes and implementation processes in three primary schools in Soweto, South Africa, from August to December 2013. Quantitative methods included participant attendance and SMS platform usage tracking, pre/post questionnaires, and structured observation. Qualitative data were collected from program participants, parents, teachers, and a social worker during 6 focus group discussions and 4 in-depth interviews. Of 394 participants enrolled, 97% (n = 382) graduated, and 217 unique users accessed the SMS platform. Questionnaires completed by 213 participants (mean age: 11.9, SD: 3.02 years) alongside qualitative findings showed modest improvements in participants' perceptions of power in relationships and gender equity, self-esteem, self-efficacy to avoid unwanted sex, communication with others about HIV and sex, and HIV-related knowledge and stigma. The coach-participant relationship, safe space, and integration of soccer were raised as key intervention components. Implementation challenges were faced around delivery of soccer-based activities. Findings highlight the relevance and importance of programs like SKILLZ Street in addressing challenges facing adolescent girls in South African townships. Recommendations for future programs are provided.

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Teenage Sexuality, HIV Risk, and the Politics of Being “Duted”: Perceptions and Dynamics in a South African Township

Cited by 2 publications

References 17 publications

The dynamics of sexual risk amongst South African youth in age-disparate relationships

The dynamics of sexual risk amongst South African youth in age-disparate relationships

Linking at-risk South African girls to sexual violence and reproductive health services: A mixed-methods assessment of a soccer-based HIV prevention program and pilot SMS campaign

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