HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors and Intimate Relationships among Young Sub-Saharan African Immigrants in Switzerland: A Brief Report

Abstract

Objectives: This study explores the intimate relationship context in which sub-Saharan young immigrants (18–25) adopt HIV sexual risk behaviors. Methods: Qualitative data from 37 in-depth semistructured interviews and two focus groups were analyzed through an inductive approach and constant comparative analyses. Results: HIV sexual risk behaviors occurred in four types of intimate relationships. However, reasons for taking risks varied by relationship type and also depended on material resources, as well as interactional, cultural, and social dimensions related to sexual socialization and migration. Conclusions: Findings support the importance of considering the intimate relationship context to understand how HIV sexual risk behaviors occur.

Keywords:

• Intimate relationships
• HIV sexual risk behaviors
• young sub-Saharan immigrants

Notes

Acknowledgements

Our thanks to all the study participants who generously shared their intimate experiences. We also thank the institutional partners who allowed us to get in touch with respondents.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 We conducted ten interviews in two phases. Since we could not cover all the topics of the interview guide in 2 and a half hours, we invited participants for a second interview. All accepted and the second interview lasted between 1 and a half hour and 2 and a half hours.

2 YW stands for “young women,” and FG for “focus group.”

3 YM stands for “young man.”

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation under Grant N° 100017_162382 at the University of Fribourg and University of Lausanne in Switzerland.