Perceptions of youth on the use of condoms for HIV prevention in Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Despite the fact that condoms are very effective against Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus transmission (HIV), many people who are at risk do not use them. Latex condoms provide an essentially impermeable barrier to particles the size of HIV and other STI pathogens. The primary aim of this study was to determine the perceptions of youth on the use of condoms for HIV prevention in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative, exploratory and descriptive design was used. The population included all youth from the ages of 15 to 19 years who attended two primary health care clinics in the Capricorn District. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used. Purposive sampling was used to include participants to participate in the study. Data were collected through unstructured interviews from 15 participants. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached, after which the data obtained were analysed qualitatively by open-coding method. Findings revealed four themes; namely, paradoxical attitudes towards consistent condom use related to fear of sexual intercourse and a need to prevent HIV transmission; casual usage of condoms perceived as having positive and negative results; responsibilities of youth to insist on condom use during sexual intercourse; and programme available to help youth with consistent use of condoms. Health education themes that should be included in the programme for educating the youth on the use of condoms for HIV prevention were recommended.