Investigating the risky sexual behavioural patterns that put students at the risk of HIV Infection at Hifikepunye Pohamba Campus (HPC) of the University of Namibia (UNAM)

Date
2012-03
Authors
Chirimbana, Moses
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study sought to determine the risky sexual behavioral patterns that increase the vulnerability of Hifikepunye Pohamba (HP) students to the risk of infection by HIV/AIDS at HP Campus of the University of Namibia (UNAM). The study intended to make an assessment of the HIV/AIDS support structures for students at HP campus, their relevance and adequacy, and the extent to which these structures and facilities are helping students to cope with HIV/AIDS effects. The study focused on students at Hifikepunye Pohamba Campus of UNAM only. Students are affected by HIV/AIDS at HP campus. Therefore, it is important to find out what the risky sexual behavior patterns of these students are in order to implement evidence-based prevention programs for HIV/AIDS at HP campus. The research also assessed and determined the suitability of the HIV/AIDS student-support structures for these students to cope with HIV/AIDS effects. More so, this study also sought to establish reasons behind students‟ risky sexual behaviors. In view of these factors the study intended to find out the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge which these HP students have. The study used triangulation in the data collection process through the use of questionnaires and a one-hour focus group discussion. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 19 and the findings from the focus group were analyzed using topological themes and coding. Findings from the study revealed that students at HP campus are involved in various risky sexual behaviors which include: indulging in sex while they are under the influence of alcohol, having concurrent multiple sexual partners, having unprotected sex, and also involved in transactional sex. The study also revealed that the level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the students is not adequate to protect them from getting infected with HIV. In addition to that, it was also revealed that the student HIV/AIDS support-structures at HP campus are not adequate to meet the needs of the students and there is more that still needs to be done to improve the status of the support systems.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om te bepaal of die Universiteit van Namibië (UNAM) studente by die Hifikepunye Pohamba (HP) kampus riskante seks patrone toon wat kan lei tot die vatbaarheid van MIV/VIGS. Tweedens beoog die navorsing om te bepaal of die HP kampus MIV/VIGS ondersteuningstrukture het, wat relevant en toereikend is. Daar word ook gekyk in watter mate die strukture en fasiliteite die studente help om die MIV/VIGS effekte te hanteer. Die studie het alleenlik op die studente van die HP kampus van UNAM gefokus. Studente van HP kampus word deur MIV/VIGS geraak en dit is dus belangrik om te bepaal watter riskante seksuele patrone deur studente geopenbaar word, sodat bewys/getuienis-gebasseerde MIV/VIGS voorkomingsprogramme vir HP student geimplementeer kan word. Die MIV/VIGS ondersteunigstrukture vir HP kampus studente, om die effek van MIV/VIGS te hanteer, word beoordeel en hulle gepastheid en toereikendheid word ook bepaal. Hierdie studie het ook ten doel om die redes vir riskante seksuele gedrag onder HP kampus student te bepaal. Teen hierdie agtergrond is die doel van die studie ook om die vlak van die HP studente se kennis rondom MIV/VIGS te bepaal. Hierdie navorsing het „n triangulasie vir die data insameling gebruik deur die aanwending van vraelyste en „n een-uur fokus-groep onderhoud. Kwantitatiewe data is met behulp van SPSS weergawe 19 geanaliseer en bevindinge van die fokusgroep is met behulp van topologiese temas en kodering verkry. Die bevindinge van die studie het aangetoon dat HP kampus studente riskante seksuele gedrag openbaar wat die volgende insluit: instemming tot seks wanneer studente onder die invloed van alkohol is, om meer as een seksmaat te hê, onbeskermde seks, en ook onderhandeling-seks. Die navorsing het ook getoon dat die studente se kennis van MIV/VIGS nie voldoende is om hulself teen die infektering daarvan te beskerm nie. Eweneens is bevind dat die MIV/VIGS ondersteuningsisteme op HP kampus onvoldoende is om die behoefdes van die studente te bevredig en daar moet nog baie meer gedoen word om die status van die sisteme te verbeter.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
College students -- Namibia -- Sexual behavior, HIV infections -- Namibia, Safe sex in AIDS prevdention -- Namibia, HIV infections -- Risk factors -- Namibia, University of Namibia -- Students -- Health and hygiene, Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management, Theses -- HIV/AIDS management, Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management, Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Assignments -- Industrial psychology
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