An evaluation of male learners’ knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding sexual and reproductive health in rural northern KwaZulu-Natal province

Figures & data

Figure 1. Age distribution of young males attending selected Bethesda Hospital catchment area schools, 2018 (n = 279).

Table 1: Participants’ reproductive health knowledge scores in relation to demographic details

		Frequency within knowledge score range
Variables		> 80% (Excellent)	60–79% (Good)	50–59% (Some)	< 50% (Poor)	Total
Age	18–20	17	38	44	65	164 (58.8)
	21–23	6	18	43	32	99 (35.5)
	24–26	0	0	5	11	16 (5.72)
Parent/ Guardian**	Father and mother	3	16	32	28	79 (28.6)
	Father only	1	2	3	3	9 (3.3)
	Mother only	14	18	28	40	100 (36.2)
	Grandparents	5	11	13	24	53 (19.2)
	Other: *CHH^a, foster parents or other relatives	0	6	16	13	35 (11.6)
Tested for HIV	Yes	18	44	60	60	182 (65.2)
	No	5	12	30	48	95 (34.0)
Source of household income**	Formal employment	7	28	30	15	80 (31.5)
	Self-employed	9	5	10	10	34 (13.4)
	Casual jobs and social grant	4	6	8	11	29 (11.4)
	Casual jobs and no social grant	0	1	6	8	15 (5.9)
	Unemployed and on social grant	0	10	26	50	86 (33.8)
	Unemployed and no grant	1	6	9	14	30 (11.8)

^a *CHH = child headed household; **some data missing; not everyone answered this question.

Table 2: Knowledge responses on different aspects of sexual and reproductive health

Statement	Frequency of response
	Yes	No
1. A girl can fall pregnant:  - any time of the month  - one week before her periods  - while menstruating	235 (84.2%)	44 (15%)
	197 (70.6%)	82 (29.4%)
	127 (45.5%)	152 (54.4%)
2. Babies born to teenage mothers:  - have a higher chance of not being offered breastfeeding  - have few problems because their parents are emotionally mature	192 (69%)	86 (31%)
	110 (39.4%)	168 (60.2%)
3. Condoms:  - help prevent getting HIV and other STIs  - do not have dangerous side effects	276 (98.9%)	3 (1.1%)
	99 (36%)	179 (64.2%)
4. Syphilis  - is one of the dangerous sexual diseases  - causes blindness, mental disorder and death if not treated	230 (82.4%)	49 (17.6%)
	60 (21.5%)	219 (78.5%)
5. Children of teenage parents usually:  - are at a greater risk of being abused by their parents  - weigh a normal weight at birth as per their gestational age	245 (87.8%)	34 (12.2%)
	48 (17.2%)	231 (82.8%)
6. Penile discharge:  - is caused by inflammation of the urethra and is usually related to STDs  - does not require any action as it will disappear	67 (24%)	212 (76%)
	227 (81.4%)	52 (18.6%)

Table 3: Participants’ attitudes towards women and sex

Statement	Agree, n (%)	Neutral, n (%)	Disagree, n (%)
1. By being dominated, girls get sexually aroused	129 (46.2)	136 (48.8)	14 (5.0)
2. A man's masculinity should be proven in sexual situations	111 (39.8)	76 (23.2)	92 (33.0)
3. Girls say ‘no’ to sex even when they mean ‘yes’	142 (50.9)	121 (42.4)	16 (5.7)
4. It is a girl's right to refuse sex any time	224 (80.4)	32 (11.4)	23 (8.2)
5. Even if a man wants sex, he shouldn't if the girl's consent is not granted	204 (73.1)	36 (13.1)	39 (14.0)
6. Every time I engage in sexual activity, it is also my responsibility to ensure that I don't cause unwanted pregnancy or transmit HIV/STIs	222 (79.6)	29 (10.4)	28 (10.0)
7. Men should be involved in antenatal and postnatal care	238 (85.3)	34 (12.2)	7 (2.5)

Table 4: Participants’ sexual practices

Age at sexual debut (years)	n	%
< 12	19	6.8
12–14	12	4.3
15–17	95	34.1
> 17	112	40.1
Still a virgin	37	13.3
Missing	4	1.4
Total	279	100