The link between drug use and HIV/AIDS among young people in ...

“Entertainment promote it… It’s a known fact of the advertising industry that sex sells. I
think that TV plays an important part in influencing children sexual behavior, like the
movie that they see on TV – sexual movies like blues and thing.” [males and females, 17-
24, in school]
Three of these groups made special reference to Black Entertainment Television (BET) as having great
influences on young persons. It appeared that BET was a favorite channel for youth nowadays, as they
aspired to be like the artists and stars featured in their sexy outfits and scenes.
Fear of loss
Three groups (all appeared to be female participants) made a strong point that girls were afraid of
losing their boyfriends and as a result would have sex with them to keep the relationship. In most
instances the boys would threaten to leave them if they did not have sex with them. It was further
reported that when the boys initiated sex without mutual desire, the girls were of the belief that their
boyfriends would leave them, even without it being verbalized by the boyfriends. After a few
attempts, the girls would give into sexual intercourse simply out of fear of loss.
“And that is the only way that they can stay with the person is just going in bed and they
don’t want to do it and if you don’t want to do it they saying they leaving you.” [females,
14-16, out of school]
Youth & Contraceptives
Though there was not a clear-cut perspective as to the use of contraceptives by young persons, there
appeared a general understanding as to the value for utilization of any form of contraceptives.
It was the general consensus that most young persons did not use condoms during every sexual
encounter.
“Not every time. Sometimes. Because the people that you have been with will tell you,
well without a condom, nothing for you. Some of them will tell you straight up. You have
a condo. Once you decide to use it you don’t get nothing. Normally I had sex with
condom but then at that one time I did not have sex with condom and that was the time I
got pregnant. As he put it on (condom) and he put it in, I saying. take it out. That, I eh
want that; that eh feeling good.” [males and females, 17-19, out of school]
It was further reported that young people normally did not use protection while having sex with their
main partners – trust was cited as the main reason for this behavior. Some did not want to use
condoms at all during intercourse.
“I used condom when was my first time but right now I don’t use because my boyfriend I
trust and …he trust me.” [females, out of school, 17-19]
Three out of school groups 14-19 years reported that coitus interruptus was a practised form of
protection against pregnancy among youth.
“No, I just pull it out. No I don’t use, I pull it out and spray it on the ground or on them.
Nah, I pull Its up to the. If they don’t want to use, then its just so. Well the boy suppose
to know what he doing and when he ready to come he suppose to pull out. Exactly.”
[males and females, 14-19, out of school]
One group also identified a new practice among youth; that being the use of clear plastic wrap as a
substitute for both male and female condoms.
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