In a country with one of the biggest HIV epidemics in the world, safe sexual practices are of vital importance.
The 2017 Durex Global Sex Survey found that 41% of South African participants, aged between 18 and 24, had engaged in unsafe sexual activities. This is the age group to which university students belong. Multiple sexual partners and not using condoms constitute as “risky” sexual practices.
Students are more likely to engage in unsafe sex due to the freedom that comes with being at university. “Students are at a stage in their [lives] and development where they experiment and take more risks in general,” says Michelle Munro, Manager of the Equality Unit’s HIV and Sexualities portfolio at Stellenbosch University (SU).
Dalaine Krige, who founded the organisation UnAshamed while at SU to raise awareness about consensual and safe sex says: “University provides young people with an environment that allows them to be independent and make the decisions that they feel they want.”
Infographic: Kara van der Berg
“There are certain sexual activities that are more risky for STIs (sexually transmitted infections) and HIV than others, but the main risky sexual behaviour is not using a condom correctly and consistently,” says Munro.
Alcohol, along with this new-found freedom, plays a large role in unsafe sexual practices amongst students. “Some students are also introduced to substances and being away from the close supervision and rules that they conformed to while in school,” Munro states.
“Alcohol, as well as other substances, can play a role, since it may lead to more risk-taking and a decrease in responsible decision making in general, especially binge drinking and being intoxicated,” she adds.
A study done by HEAIDS (The Higher Education and Training Health, Wellness and Development Centre) found that students who drink heavily are more likely to engage with multiple sexual partners.
“The abundance of alcohol also leads to situations arising where people’s inhibitions are lowered,” says Krige.
The root cause of this risky behaviour is the lack of adequate sex education in South Africa. “Even though sexual education is included in the LO (Life Orientation) curriculum it is not taught openly, clearly and unbiased,” says Munro, adding: “In many cultures and religions it is also still taboo to speak about sex and many educators see it as the parents’ responsibility.”
Krige echoes these sentiments: “With regards to sexual education amongst students, I believe it is something that is severely lacking. Our primary and secondary schools’ curriculum does not do an adequate job of equipping young people with knowledge to empower them to make safe sexual decisions.”
SU distributes roughly 30 000 condoms on campus per month. Campus Health Service offers free contraceptive pills to female students, as well as STI screenings and emergency contraceptives.
“The availability of condoms on campus does not encourage sexual activity but encourages sexual responsibility and taking the responsibility for your own and your partners’ health,” Munro states.
Other safe sex materials, like dental dams and fingercots, are available at the Equality Unit’s office. Sex Ed workshops were also facilitated in residences as part of this year’s welcoming program.
“We are all adults and wish to be treated as such; therefore we believe that it is good to have these conversations to educate everyone, rather than sweeping it under the rug and pretending as if it is not a reality in our lives,” says Rebecca Pitt, Prim of Monica ladies residence who included a safe sex workshop in their 2019 welcoming program. “Be safe – not sorry.”