Exploring HIV risk perceptions amongst students at a South African university

Date
2013-03
Authors
McConney, Angelique Rochelle
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The youth has been identified as one of the most vulnerable, at risk groups of HIV infection. The effects of HIV amongst this population hold many dire consequences and subsequently much investment has been put into HIV prevention programmes amongst this population. It is important that these are prevention programmes with impact. Prevention programmes with impact need to understand and consider the factors that interfere with safe sexual practices. One such factor is risk perception. This study sought to explore the HIV risk perception of students at a South African University (Stellenbosch University). It further sought to understand the underlying factors which influence the risk perception amongst students with the aim of making recommendations for improved prevention initiatives. The research methods included both quantitative and qualitative methods. Data collection was done through a survey questionnaire, focus group discussions and interviews. Statistical analysis was used to analyse the quantitative data while grounded theory was used to analyse the qualitative data. The study found a low HIV risk perception amongst students. While some students low HIV risk perception were appropriate to their sexual behaviour, some factors influencing risk perception raised concern about the low risk perception rate found amongst students.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die jeug is aangedui as een van die kwesbaarste, hoë risiko groepe vir MIV-infeksie. Die impak van hoë MIV infeksie vlakke en verhoogde kwesbaarheid onder hierdie populasie, hou moontlike katastrofiese gevolge in. Gevolglik is daar „n groot fokus op voorkomende programme met impak onder hierdie populasie. Voorkomende programme met impak moet die faktore wat hoë risiko gedrag beïnvloed verstaan en inkorporeer. Een van hierdie faktore is risiko persepsie. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die risiko persepsie van studente by „n Suid-Afrikaanse Universiteit (Stellenbosch Universiteit) te eksploreer. Die studie het verder gepoog om die faktore wat die risiko persepsie van studente beïnvloed beter te verstaan met die doel om aanbevelings te maak om toekomstige programme te verbeter. Kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetodes is gebruik. Data insameling het plaasgevind deur drie metodes: 'n vraelys, fokus groepe en onderhoude. Die ingesamelde data vanaf die vraelyste is met statistieke analise geanaliseer. Kwodering van die kwalitatiewe data (fokus groepe en onderhoude) is ook toegepas. Die studie het „n lae risiko persepsie onder studente gevind. Sommige studente se lae risiko persepsie is op geskikte seksuele gedrag gebaseer. Van die faktore wat risiko persepsie beïnvloed is wel kommerwekkend.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.
Keywords
HIV infections -- Risk factors -- South Africa -- Stellenbosch, College students -- Health risk assessment -- South Africa -- Stellenbosch, College students -- Sexual behavior -- South Africa -- Stellenbosch, Risk perception -- South Africa -- Stellenbosch, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management
Citation