ArticleAfrican health sciences2020
Sexual knowledge and practice of adolescent learners in a rural South African school.
Article in African health sciences, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- "I am not shy anymore": A qualitative study of the role of an interactive mHealth intervention on sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of South African adolescents with perinatal HIV.Reproductive health · 2022Trial
- Perceptions of adolescents regarding sexual and reproductive health role models.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2026Article
- Study on HIV knowledge and cultural attitudes about sexuality among Chinese college students.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Knowledge and attitudes regarding contraceptive methods and sex education in students and parents of eight Colombian schools 2020-2021: a mixed methods study.Lancet regional health. Americas · 2024Article
- Barriers and Mythical Practices of Teenagers Regarding the Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Rural Areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- Sexual and reproductive health literacy among young people in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence synthesis and implications.Global health action · 2023Review
- "I want one nurse who is friendly to talk to me properly like a friend": Learner preferences for HIV and contraceptive service provision in Gauteng, South Africa.Research square · 2023Article
- Reproductive health issues, infections and non-communicable diseases.African health sciences · 2020Article
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7 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundPremature sexual activity has become a norm in South African society, often resulting in teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Occurrence of premature sexual activity is related to insufficient education, gender inequalities, household poverty and place of residence. The Stepping Stones project uses a 10-session programme to educate learners about relationships, HIV-prevention and teenage pregnancy. The purpose was to measure and describe learners' sexual knowledge and activities in a rural technical secondary school in North-west Province, South Africa.
methodsA cross-sectional survey. Questionnaires were distributed to learners in grade 8 to 12. Descriptive statistics was used in analysis.
resultsSeventy-nine questionnaires were analysed. Despite a young sample, 26.6% were sexually active and 24.1% engaged in sexual activity. The mean age for first-time sexual intercourse was 15.2±2.3 years. The use of contraceptives was low (41.2%) and participants reported difficulty in talking to partners about condom use (54.8%). Almost half (45.5%) of the participants had never heard of STDs. Participants expressed a need to use social media as a sex education tool (12.3%). The primary source of information was from school-based programmes (58.0%).
conclusionFindings point to unsafe sexual practice of learners at a school in rural South Africa, even from an early age. This concern is accompanied by the occurrence of low levels of sexually-related knowledge. The learners would benefit from continued implementation of the Stepping Stones programme. Implementation could be improved by incorporating social media and emphasising gender equality and negotiation skills in sexually vulnerable situations.
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