Full Text Available

Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.

An exploration of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first-year psychology students at the University of the Western Cape

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Fennie, Thelma
Other Authors: Laas, A.
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2011
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1867614126492090368
access_status_str Open Access
author Fennie, Thelma
author2 Laas, A.
author_browse Fennie, Thelma
Laas, A.
author_facet Laas, A.
Fennie, Thelma
author_sort Fennie, Thelma
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6560
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:47:05.324Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2011
publishDateRange 2011
publishDateSort 2011
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6560 An exploration of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first-year psychology students at the University of the Western Cape Fennie, Thelma Laas, A. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management. Dissertations -- Industrial psychology Theses -- Industrial psychology Assignments -- Industrial psychology Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management Theses -- HIV/AIDS management Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management College students -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Sexual behavior Safe sex in AIDS prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: HIV/AIDS risky behaviour remains a critical health concern for adolescents, specifically at university level. In South Africa, as in many other developed countries, the primary method of HIV/AIDS transmission is heterosexual intercourse (UNAIDS, 2006). Consequences of risky behaviour include unplanned and unprotected sex, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Adolescents who decide to delay their first sexual experience sexual debut, will certainly have a better chance of not having their lives at risk with HIV/AIDS infections, than those who have an earlier sexual debut. In light of the above, this study was conducted to explore the level of sexual knowledge and attitudes about risky sexual behaviour and to identify trends in misinformation among young adults about HIV/AIDS. The study made use of a quantitative research approach. A self-administered baseline questionnaire, used for data collection, was administered to a group of students in a South African university setting. The survey focussed on the areas of HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health, in order to better understand young adults' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and risky sexual behaviour around HIV/AIDS. A sample of (n=220) first-year Psychology students, with ages ranging between 18 and 24 years, were invited to participate in the study. Respondents had an average age of 19.7 years, and were 164 female and 56 male undergraduates. A total of 220 respondents responded to the questionnaire, resulting in a return response rate of 100%. The findings indicated that over 80% of the students have high levels of knowledge and attitudes with regard to HIV/AIDS. They would on the other hand, refuse having sexual intercourse with a partner without a condom during sexual intercourse. Over 80% had chosen to abstain from sex till their wedding day. Fourty-eight percent (48%) felt that more educational and awareness programmes with regard to HIV/AIDS are necessary. Changing behaviour proves to be the key variable which can impact on the spreading and prevention of the HI-virus. Furthermore, the study will make recommendations for future preventative interventions to address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: MIV/Vigs is 'n kritiese gesondheidsbekommernis vir adolessente veral op universiteitsvlak. In Suid-Afrika, sowel as in ander ontwikkelde lande, is die primêre metode van oordrag deur middel van heteroseksuele geslagsomgang. Adolessente wat besluit om hul eerste seksuele ondervinding (seksuele debuut) te vertraag, staan sekerlik 'n beter kans om nie blootgestel te word aan MIV-Vigs infeksies nie. Anders as diegene wat wel aan 'n vroeer seksuele debuut blootgestel word. Die doel van hierdie studie is om ondersoek in te stel rondom die seksuele kennis en houdings omtrent hoë-risiko seksuele gedrag en om neigings rakende MIV/Vigs onder jong volwassenes te identifiseer. 'n Kwalitatiewe benadering is in hierdie studie gebruik. 'n Self-administreerde grondslag vraelys was aan 'n groep studente in 'n Suid-Afrikaanse universiteit uitgereik vir data insameling. Die fokus van die vraelys behels areas van MIV/Vigs en seksuele reproduktiewe gesondheid om sodoende die kennis, houdings en hoë-risiko seksuele gedrag van jongmense te verstaan. 'n Steekproef van (n=220) eerstejaar Sielkunde studente, van die ouderdomsgroepe 18-24 jaar, was ewekansig geselekteer om aan die studie deel te neem. Die gemiddelde ouderdom van die studente was 19.7 jaar met 164 vroulike en 56 manlike voorgraadse studente. Al 220 studente het die vraelys voltooi dus was daar 'n responssyfer van 100%. Resultate dui daarop dat meer as 80% van die studente het hoë kennis- en houdingsvlakke met betrekking tot MIV/Vigs. Daarteenoor sou hulle seksuele omgang met 'n maat weier indien hul nie 'n kondoom kan gebruik nie. Meer as 80% het gekies om afstand van seks te neem tot en met hul troudag. Agt-en-veertig persent (48%) voel veel meer opvoeding-en bewustheidsprogramme met betrekking tot MIV/Vigs is noodsaaklik. Gedragsverandering is die enigste werklike veranderlike wat 'n impak kan hê op die verdere voorkoming en verspreiding van die MIV-virus. Verder word aanbevelings vir toekomstige voorkomende ingryping wat die MIV/Vigs pandemie aanspreek, voorgestel. Masters 2011-03-02T12:19:45Z 2011-03-14T08:19:13Z 2011-03-02T12:19:45Z 2011-03-14T08:19:13Z 2011-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6560 en_ZA University of Stellenbosch 87 p. application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle Dissertations -- Industrial psychology
Theses -- Industrial psychology
Assignments -- Industrial psychology
Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management
Theses -- HIV/AIDS management
Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management
College students -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Sexual behavior
Safe sex in AIDS prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape
Fennie, Thelma
An exploration of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first-year psychology students at the University of the Western Cape
title An exploration of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first-year psychology students at the University of the Western Cape
title_full An exploration of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first-year psychology students at the University of the Western Cape
title_fullStr An exploration of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first-year psychology students at the University of the Western Cape
title_full_unstemmed An exploration of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first-year psychology students at the University of the Western Cape
title_short An exploration of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first-year psychology students at the University of the Western Cape
title_sort exploration of hiv aids related knowledge attitudes and risky sexual behaviour of first year psychology students at the university of the western cape
topic Dissertations -- Industrial psychology
Theses -- Industrial psychology
Assignments -- Industrial psychology
Dissertations -- HIV/AIDS management
Theses -- HIV/AIDS management
Assignments -- HIV/AIDS management
College students -- South Africa -- Western Cape -- Sexual behavior
Safe sex in AIDS prevention -- South Africa -- Western Cape
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6560
work_keys_str_mv AT fenniethelma anexplorationofhivaidsrelatedknowledgeattitudesandriskysexualbehaviouroffirstyearpsychologystudentsattheuniversityofthewesterncape
AT fenniethelma explorationofhivaidsrelatedknowledgeattitudesandriskysexualbehaviouroffirstyearpsychologystudentsattheuniversityofthewesterncape