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Zimbabwean adolescents' condom use: what makes a difference? Implications for intervention.
Sherry C Betts1, Donna J Peterson, Angela J Huebner
1Division of Family Studies and Human Development, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
Summary
Understanding adolescent sexual behavior in Zimbabwe requires looking beyond education. Factors like parental support and extracurricular involvement influence safe sex practices, highlighting the need for multi-level interventions for youth.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Adolescent sexual health is a critical public health issue globally.
- Understanding factors influencing protected sex is vital for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate risk and resilience factors across ecological levels influencing Zimbabwean adolescents' sexual practices.
- To identify predictors of protected versus unprotected sex among youth in Zimbabwe.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 730 sexually active adolescents in eight Zimbabwean secondary schools.
- Discriminant analysis was used to examine self, peer, family, and community factors, stratified by gender.
Main Results:
- For boys, safe sex was associated with older age, perceived parental availability, extracurricular engagement, and lower dropout likelihood.
- For girls, increased worry about HIV/AIDS correlated with safer sex practices.
Conclusions:
- Standard sexuality education, including HIV/AIDS and STD prevention, is insufficient on its own.
- Interventions must address multiple ecological levels and acknowledge gender-specific differences in influencing adolescent sexual health outcomes.