Sexuality education in the digital age : modelling the predictors of acceptance and behavioural intention to access and interact with sexuality information on social media

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Southern Africa Systems Analysis Centre (SASAC) and the University of the Witwatersrand for providing partial funding to support this study.Introduction Diverse literature on sexual health promotion using social media suggests that increasing information reach and interaction are crucial. This study integrated the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to model the predictors of young adults’ behavioural intention to use and interact with sexuality education on social media. Methods A total of 936 young adults in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa who had access to the internet and Facebook were recruited via Facebook’s advertising platform from 22 May 2020 to 8 June 2020. A structural equation model was fitted on the sample to identify the individual attributes associated with the intention to use and interact with sexuality information on social media. Results About 84% of the young adults in the sample consider social media an appropriate medium for sexual health communication, with Facebook being the most preferred (40%) digital platform for sexual health promotion. Results from the structural equation model showed that performance expectancy (β = 0.18, P < 0.001), social influence (β = 0.09, P = 0.047), effort expectancy (β = 0.25, P < 0.001), facilitating condition (β = 0.33, P < 0.001), and attitude (β = 0.10, P = 0.039) were significantly associated with the intention to access sexuality education on social media. These factors (except attitude) were also significantly associated with the intention to interact with sexual health information on social media. Conclusions Young people with internet access are amenable to receiving and interacting with sexuality information on social media. The use of social media for sexuality education is associated with whether such use is free of effort, endorsed by society, align with their engagements with other messages, and helps them achieve improvement in their sexual and reproductive health. Policy Implications Strategies to increase access and interaction with sexuality information on social media help young people make an informed decision about their sexuality. Such use should also be free of effort, align with the way they interact with other information on social media, and supported by the society.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Saving sex for marriage : an analysis of lay attitudes towards virginity and its perceived benefit for marriage

EO acknowledges funding support from the Southern Africa Systems Analysis Centre, National Research Foundation, South Africa, grant number: 118772, and the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.How do young people interpret virginity loss, and does saving sex for marriage have any socially constructed benefit for marriage? This study answers this question using data obtained from a peer-led Facebook group with more than 175,000 participants, mostly in African countries, particularly Nigeria. A reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze 100 public wall posts and 3860 comments posted on the group between June 2018 and May 2019. Four distinctive interpretations of virginity loss comprising the gift, precondition, stigma, and process emerged from the data. These interpretations were also gendered, such that a woman’s virginity was interpreted as a gift but a stigma for men. The wall posts and comments further suggest that saving sex for marriage may have some culturally sensitive benefits, including trust, and marital sexual satisfaction. Altogether the findings expand the current understanding of the diverse perceived benefits of virginity that move beyond honour and respect to more complex benefits like trust in a union, sexual satisfaction and ultimate satisfaction in marriage.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Do Family Structure and Poverty Affect Sexual Risk Behaviors of Undergraduate Students in Nigeria?

This study examined sexual practices in a Nigerian University community with a view to understanding the role of family structure and poverty on risky sexual behaviours. A representative sample of 1,301 undergraduate students was randomly selected from the various faculties that made up the University. Using a questionnaire instrument, information was obtained on sexual behaviours of interest such as sexual initiation, multi-partnered sexual activity and condom use. Findings showed a noticeable variation in the relationship between family structure and risky sexual behaviour. Contrary to expectations, students from single parent homes showed lower likelihood of having multiple sexual partners. Also poverty was found not to be a critical determinant of risky sexual behaviour. Given the unclear nature of the findings, future study should explore further understanding of the relationship between family characteristics, poverty rating and risky sexual behaviour among students. Keywords: Sexual risk behaviour, family structure, poverty, undergraduate students, Nigeria (Afr J Reprod Health 2013; 17[4]: 137-149

Rural-urban differences in the predictive influence of sex preference on marital dissolution in Nigeria

This study examined the influence of place of residence on sex preference as a predictor of marital dissolution in Nigeria. It also appraised the mediation of socio-demographic factors on the relationship between sex preference and marital dissolution. Data were sourced from the 2018 demographic and health survey of Nigeria. Analyses involved the use of descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square test and binary logistic regression models. Generally, marital dissolution significantly occurred more in rural than in urban areas. While more respondents had no child sex preference, preference for boys was significantly more among the urban women compared to the rural women. Irrespective of place of residence, sex preference was not a significant predictor of marital dissolution in Nigeria as the unadjusted models of marital dissolution and sex preference indicated that preference for more boys significantly decreased the odds of marital dissolution in the rural (OR=0.84; p=0.05), urban (OR=0.67; p=0.001), and total population (OR=0.77; p=0.001). In addition, preference for more girls significantly decreased the likelihood of marital dissolution in the rural (OR=0.82; p=0.002) and total populations (OR=0.84; p=0.05). Moreover, in the full adjusted model of the total population, preference for more males (OR=0.57; p=0.002) was also significantly associated with decreased odds of marital dissolution. Conversely, other factors that significantly increased the odds of marital dissolution included educational attainment, intimate partner violence, religion, being employed, polygamous unions, and region of residence. Women should achieve higher levels of education and be engaged in income earning occupations as mitigation measures against marital dissolution. Antidissolution campaigns should be initiated, especially in rural areas with high levels of intimate partner violence and in regions with relatively high incidences of marital dissolution/p-/p-1. Keywords: Marital dissolution, Nigeria, place of residence, sex preference Cette étude a examiné l'influence du lieu de résidence sur la préférence sexuelle en tant que prédicteur de la dissolution du mariageau Nigéria. Il a également évalué la médiation des facteurs sociodémographiques sur la relation entre la préférence sexuelle et la dssolution du mariage. Les données proviennent de l'enquête démographique et sanitaire de 2018 au Nigéria. Les analyses&nbsp; impliquaient l'utilisation de statistiques descriptives, du test du chi carré de Pearson et de modèles de régression logistique binaire.En général, la dissolution du mariage se produit beaucoup plus en milieu rural qu'en milieu urbain. Alors qu'un plus grand nombrede répondants n'avaient pas de préférence sexuelle pour les enfants, la préférence pour les garçons était significativement plus élevée chez les femmes urbaines que chez les femmes rurales. Quel que soit le lieu de résidence, la préférence sexuelle n'était pas un prédicteur significatif de la dissolution du mariage au Nigéria, car les modèles non ajustés de dissolution du mariage et de préférence sexuelle indiquaient que la préférence pour plus de garçons diminuait considérablement les chances de dissolution du mariage en milieu rural (OR = 0,84; p = 0,05), urbaine (OR = 0,67; p = 0,001) et population totale (OR = 0,77; p = 0,001). De plus, la préférence pour un plus grand nombre de filles réduisait considérablement la probabilité de dissolution du mariage dans les populations rurales (OR = 0,82; p = 0,002) et dans l'ensemble (OR = 0,84; p = 0,05). De plus, dans le modèle ajusté complet de la population totale, la préférence pour un plus grand nombre d'hommes (OR = 0,57; p = 0,002) était également associée de manière significative à une diminution des chances de dissolution du mariage. À l'inverse, d'autres facteurs qui augmentaient considérablement les probabilités de dissolution du mariage comprenaient le niveau de scolarité, la violence entre partenaires intimes, la religion, le fait d'avoir un emploi, les unions polygames et la région de résidence. Les femmes devraient atteindre des niveaux d'éducation plus élevés et être engagées dans des professions rémunératrices en tant que mesures d'atténuation contre la dissolution du mariage. Des campagnes anti-dissolution devraient être lancées, en particulier dans les zones rurales où la violence entre partenaires intimes est élevée et dans les régions où l'incidence de la dissolution du mariage est relativement élevée. Mots-clés: Dissolution conjugale, Nigéria, Lieu de résidence, Préférence sexuell

Dynamics of gender-based violence among the Tivs of North Central Nigeria

Gender-based violence has been noted as a major international public health and human right issue. Still relatively little is known about its frequency, sub-cultural variations and correlates in Nigeria. Data from a cross sectional sample of women in the North Central Region of Nigeria were used to examine women’s experience and perception of gender-based violence. The types and levels of gender-based violence were measured and logistic regression was performed to identify critical significant factors affecting different types of gender-based violence. This was done by analyzing the association between socioeconomic, cultural and demographic variables and types of gender-based violence identified in the study. While there is a high prevalence of gender-based violence in terms of wife battery and marital sexual rape, their incidence is low. There is social approval for intimate partner violence while respondents did not agree that sexual rape occurs in marriage. Attitudes to gender based violence are supportive as most participant respondents see the tradition of wife battery as a demonstration of love. Most respondents would not report any experience of gender-based violence to the law enforcement agencies and the public. Women who have suffered intimate partner violence are more likely to have suffered rape and psychological abuse. There is statistical difference in social-health consequences reported by abused and non abused women. There is no consistent association between socioeconomic and demographic variables and types of gender-based violence. Gender-based violence interventions should focus on its social-health consequences instead of how to change men. A significant progress would be made if communities and individuals are aware of the social, human right and reproductive health consequences of forms of gender-based violence

Adolescent mortality in South Africa: An analysis of unnatural causes of deaths by sex, 2000-2009

Despite South Africa being a peaceful democracy for the past 18 years, mortality due to unnatural and violent causes still occur among the youth, who are aged between 15 and 34 years old (Presidency of the Republic of South Africa 2009). However, this is not specific to South Africa; with developed countries experiencing the same trend. In developed countries, Christoffe (1994) found that death due to unnatural causes, specifically related to violence, had increased especially among the youth. South Africa is now moving towards the same transition that is currently experienced by developed nations in the world: violent deaths as a major cause of death amongst the youth which includes some adolescents (10-19 years old) (Norman, et al, 2007). With this in mind, this paper aims to examine the different levels of male and female adolescent mortality due to five unnatural causes of death. Data from South African Death Notification Forms is analysed for the years 2000-2009. Cause-specific mortality rates and proportional mortality ratios are produced. Results show adolescents are dying from events of undetermined intent, transport accidents’ and self- harm, especially males. The selected causes of death are contributing up to 27% of all adolescent male mortality and almost 12% of all female mortality in 2009. The results of this paper allude to crime, violence and safety issues in South Africa

Trends and gender differences in age at sex debut among adolescents and young adults in urban Cape Area, South Africa

Background: Adolescents and young adults in South Africa are at increased risk of experiencing negative outcomes from early sex initiation due to the context they develop in. This study aimed at investigating trends and gender differences in early age at sexual debut. Methods: Data from the Cape Area Panel Study (CAPS) of young adults\u2019 conducted between 2002 and 2009 in urban Cape Town were used. Correlates of early sex using ecological risk factors were analysed. Results: Overall mean age at sexual debut at follow-up was 17.5 years (standard deviation (SD) =2.5), with males at 16.8 years (SD=2.5) and 18.1 years (SD=2.4) for females. Males consistently reported an earlier age at sex debut across the five waves of the survey. Significant risk factors for early sex appeared at all levels of the ecology to include individual, household, and community factors. Conclusions: Integrated interventions for delaying early sex debut should consider factors within the ecology of the young adults\u2019 development context

Review of Sexuality Studies in Africa: Setting a New Post-2015 Research Agenda

At the nexus between reproductive health, population and development is the subject of sexuality which has generated extensive discourse in the past two decades. In this paper, we review Africa sexuality studies published between 1994 and 2015 with the aim of synthesizing the available evidence and suggesting a new research agenda for post-2015. Review findings showed that previous studies covered the five components of sexuality – practices, partners, pleasure/pressure/pain, procreation and power to different extents. Risky sexual behaviour was prevalent from adolescence till older ages. Literature on pleasure, pain, procreation and power reflect the complex diversity driven by traditional norms, gender roles and attitudes across the continent. Knowledge gaps were highlighted and new agenda suggested for sexuality research.Keywords: sexual behaviour, sexual violence, sexual pleasure/satisfaction, gender roles, socio-cultural norms, sub-Saharan Africa

Contextual determinants of adolescent mortality in South Africa

Objectives: South Africa has a large adolescent population (approximately 20% of the total population). The survival and development of these individuals are a priority among parents and the government. In an effort to better understand the factors contributing to adolescent mortality in South Africa, this study examined the effect of household and community factors on adolescent death. Methods: The study used data from Census 2001. Multilevel modelling was used to study the impact of community and household factors on adolescent mortality. A multivariate binary logistic 2- level model was developed. Odds ratios were produced and, statistically significant values (p&lt;0.05) were discussed. There were 41,261 reported adolescent deaths from census data. Results: This study found that having a few household assets, six or more people living in a residence, and high racial diversity is associated with increased odds of adolescent mortality in South Africa in 2001. Conclusions: Socio-economic status of the household and racial diversity within communities is likely to increase adolescent mortality in South Africa. However, there is need to examine the role of other community characteristics, such as number of schools, health facilities and employment opportunities in order to create a holistic profile of the contextual determinants of adolescent mortality in the country