Sexual and reproductive health perceptions and practices as revealed in the sexual history narratives of South African men living in a time of HIV/AIDS
Open accessAbstract
Abstract The frequent positioning of men's sexual risk-taking as driving the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa has triggered interest in men's sexual and reproductive health (SRH) perceptions, attitudes, and practices. Much research, however, presents men as a homogenous group, and focuses on the quantifiable aspects of male sexual behaviors, providing an inadequate basis for understanding men's SRH needs and addressing the gendered aspects of HIV prevention. This study used sexual history narratives to yield more nuanced and contextualized understandings of male sexuality as it relates to SRH. Fifty sexual life history individual interviews and 10 focus-group discussions (FGDs) with men, as well as 25 sexual life history interviews with women, were conducted with participants purposively sampled from three age categories: (18-24, 25-55, and 55+ years), a wide range of cultural and racial backgrounds, and in urban and rural sites across 5 provinces in South Africa. Interviews and FGDs elicited stories of participant's early knowledge of sex and sexual experimentation and then explored sexual relationships and experiences in adulthood-including engagement with HIV risks and SRH management. The data were analyzed using a thematic approach. Many male participants conformed to dominant norms of masculinity associated with a high risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV, such as having regular unprotected sex, reluctance to test for HIV, and poor SRH-seeking behaviors. Yet, the narrative accounts reveal instances of men taking steps to protect their own SRH and that of their partners, and the complex ways in which hegemonic gender norms influence men and women's SRH. Ultimately, the study points to the value of sexual biographies for gaining a deeper understanding of male sexuality, and the social structures, meanings, and experiences that underlie it. Such insights are critical to more effectively engaging men in HIV prevention efforts.
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Masculinity norms discourage men from seeking care in an effort to 'tough it out'.
“Masculinity norms discourage men from seeking care in an effort to ‘tough it out’ [13, 14].”
From Echoes of old HIV paradigms: reassessing the problem of engaging men in HIV testing and treatment through women’s perspectives (2017) · cites this paper as [13]
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- Authors
- Stern, E., Rau, A., & Cooper, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Cape Town (ZA)
- University of the Free State (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Stern, Erin
- Venue
- SAHARA-J: Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-01-02
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 233-244
- ISSN
- 1729-0376 (ISSN-L)
- 1813-4424
- PMC
- PMC4272193
- OpenAlex
- W1996938569
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5
- FWCI
- 2.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- SAHARA-J Journal of Social Aspects of HIV/AIDS (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Keywords
- male sexuality, sexual biographies, HIV prevention, masculinity, gender norms, sexual risk behavior, HIV testing, sexually transmitted infections, South Africa, men's health
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Female, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Male, Middle Aged, Sexual Behavior, South Africa, AIDS Serodiagnosis, HIV Infections, Unsafe Sex, Young Adult
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