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A difficult conversation’

Community stakeholders’ and key informants’ perceptions of the barriers to talking about sex and HIV with adolescents and young people in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Bibliographic Data

ID15098186
AuthorsLucia Knight (0000-0001-9938-6887, University of Cape Town, corresponding author), Hilton Humphries (0000-0001-8503-4127, Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa), Natasha Van der Pol (0000-0002-6078-2046, Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa), Nkosinathi Ncgobo (Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa), Zaynab Essack (0000-0002-8867-3415, Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa), Tamsen J Rochat (0000-0002-5223-770X, Faculty of Health Sciences, SAMRC/WITS Developmental Pathways to Health Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa), Heidi Van Rooyen (0000-0002-6502-6098, The Impact Centre, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa)
Year2023
Volume25
Issue12
Pages1725-1740
Publication date2023-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2023.2178674
PMID36803644
OpenAlexW4321371361
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited35

Adolescence and young adulthood are important periods of transition and therefore for action and intervention to ensure future sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Caregiver-adolescent communication about sex and sexuality is a protective factor for SRH, but there are often barriers to this. Adults' perspectives are limited within the literature but important as they should lead this process. This paper uses exploratory qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 40 purposively sampled community stakeholders and key informants to explore their insights into the perceived, experienced or expected challenges adults' experience when having these conversations within a high HIV prevalence, South African context. Findings suggest that respondents recognised the value of communication and were generally willing to try it. However, they identified barriers such as fear, discomfort and limited knowledge and perceived capacity to do so. They show that in high prevalence contexts adults grapple with their own personal risks, behaviours and fears that may affect their ability to have these conversations. This demonstrates the need to equip caregivers with the confidence and ability to communicate about sex and HIV, alongside managing their own complex risks and situations to overcome barriers. It is also necessary to shift the negative framing of adolescents and sex

Context (archaeology · Conversation · Developmental psychology · Environmental health · Family medicine · Framing (construction · Geography · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Human sexuality · Perception · Population · Qualitative research · Reproductive health · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Gender Studies · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Unique citing works5
Citations per year1,67
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 5
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