Dating Violence and Self-Efficacy for Delayed Sex among Adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

In South Africa, dating violence is known to be widespread among  adolescents, and is therefore a major public health issue because of its association with sexual risk behaviours. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between dating violence and self-efficacy for  delayed sex among school-going adolescents in Cape Town, South Africa. The study is based on analyses of data from a school-based health  education programme targeting sexual and reproductive health issues.The study involved 3,655 school-going adolescents aged between 12 and 17 in Cape Town, South Africa. The data was collected by means of a  self-administered questionnaire composed of 153 items on sexual and reproductive health, dating violence as well as socio-demographic  characteristics. The results indicated that males showed a higher  percentage of both dating violence victimization and perpetration, as  compared to females. It was also found that adolescents from lower socio-economic backgrounds were more likely to be the victims of dating violence as compared to those from a higher socio-economic background. Female learners showed higher levels of self-efficacy for delayed sex than their male counterparts. Although the result revealed that there was a significant association between self-efficacy for delayed sex and socio-economic  status, this link decreased with age. It is concluded that educational  programmes aimed solely at improving self-efficacy for delayed sex is insufficient. Such programmes must also aim at preventing dating violence  and equipping adolescents with the skills to negotiate their way out of dating violence. Afr J Reprod Health 2014; 18[2]: 46-57).

Keywords: STI, HIV, Sexual Risk Behavior, Sexual Debut, Coerced Sex