Pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention intervention preferences of South African adolescent girls

Findings from a cultural consensus modelling qualitative study

Bibliographic Data

ID15098367
AuthorsT Dylanne Twitty (0000-0003-3534-8309, University of Cincinnati, corresponding author), Anthony E Hitch (0000-0002-2018-7592, University of Cincinnati), Lochner Marais (0000-0002-0299-3435, Centre of Development Support, Economic and Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa), Jessica M Sales (0000-0002-1571-8192, Emory University), Codi Sharp (0000-0001-8349-4701, Centre of Development Support, Economic and Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa), Jan Cloete (0000-0003-2362-5014, Centre of Development Support, Economic and Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa), Molefi Lenka (0000-0002-4362-6172, Centre of Development Support, Economic and Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa), Kholisa Rani (0000-0002-3669-9074, Centre of Development Support, Economic and Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa), Nicole K Gause (0000-0003-3467-0443, University Counseling & Wellbeing Center, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA), Jennifer L Brown (0000-0002-6683-0053, Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA)
Year2024
Volume26
Issue2
Pages191-207
Publication date2024-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2023.2194357
PMID37022107
OpenAlexW4362657156
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited34

South African adolescent girls experience high rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections including HIV. To inform culturally-tailored dual protection interventions to prevent both unintended pregnancy and STIs/HIV, this study qualitatively examined girls’ sexual health intervention preferences. Participants were aged 14–17 years old and Sesotho-speaking (N = 25). To elucidate shared cultural beliefs, individual interviews examined participants’ perceptions about other adolescent girls’ pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention intervention preferences. Interviews were conducted in Sesotho and translated into English. Two independent coders identified key themes in the data using a conventional content analysis approach with discrepancies resolved by a third coder. Participants indicated that intervention content should include efficacious pregnancy and STI/HIV prevention methods and ways to navigate peer pressure. Interventions should be accessible, avoid criticism and provide high-quality information. Preferred intervention formats included online, SMS/text, or delivery by social workers or older, knowledgeable peers, with mixed acceptability for delivery by parents or same-age peers. Schools, youth centres and sexual health clinics were preferred intervention settings. Results highlight the importance of cultural context in tailoring dual protection interventions to address the reproductive health disparities among adolescent girls in South Africa

Developing country · Developmental psychology · Family medicine · Pregnancy · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Clinical Psychology · Community Health and Development · Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations · Medicine · Psychology

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