Predictors of condoms use behaviour and intentions of African migrant youth in South Africa
Although the prognosticators of condom use among youth in South Africa have been extensively studied, very little is known about the attitudes and subjective norms influencing sexual behaviours that could influence safe sex intentions among the population of migrant youth in South Africa. This study aims to investigate the predictors of condom use behaviour and intentions among migrant youth in South Africa and examines the influences of acculturation on the relationship between condom use intention and behaviour among this population. This was done through the exploration of the nature and extent of condom use; condom use behaviour; acculturation and condom use behaviour; association between acculturation and intentions to use condom use; association between intention and condom use behaviour; and perceived behavioural control and condom use behaviour among African migrant youth. Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and Berry's model of acculturation provided the theoretical framework for the empirical investigation of the study. The current study utilized a sexually active sample (N=91) of youth African migrants residing in Cape Town, with ages ranging 18-35 years. Age proportion by percentage was 18-25 at 46.2%, 26-3 at 30.8% and 32-35 years at 20.8%. A cross sectional quantitative research design was utilized and a time location non-probability sampling procedure was assumed in this study. Participants were recruited through a non-profit organisations working with African migrants in Cape Town. The instrument used was an anonymous semi-structured questionnaire consisting of five measures that assess the central study variables and a demographic section. Results indicate that attitudes had an insignificant relationship with condom use behaviour. Referent group norms had a .378 correlation (significant at 0.01 level) which indicate that peer norms had an influence on condom use behavior. Hierarchical multiple analyses were conducted, attitudes and subjective norms were entered in the first step explaining 15% of the variance on condom use behaviour. After entry of perceived behavioral control and intentions at step 2 the total variance explained by the model as whole was 22.7%. The two control measures explained an additional 7.7%, this means that perceived behavioral control and intentions explain an additional 7.7% (.077x100) of the variance in condom use behaviour of variance on condom use behaviour, even when the effects of attitudes and subjective norms are statistically controlled for. With respect to gender differences, females reported less condom use compared to males. This study concludes that, the central study variables did not have a highly significant correlation with condom use behaviour, with attitudes having the least significance. This study identified barriers to condom use such as culture and religion emphasize the need for future interventions to target popular opinion leaders (POL's) so as to influence cultural and religious beliefs that might have an impact on condom use.
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