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2008 SERIES

EPISODE 14 - Sexual negotiations

The TeamAdolescents & ARVsHerpes & HIVCelebrities & HIVSero-disordant coupleRelationships & sex Breast, bottle or cup?VCTHate crimesMDR & XDR TBCircumcisionGender violenceInfants on ARVsSexual negotiationsSocial grantsCervical cancerSubstance abusePMTCTFarm workers & HIVPEPTeen pregnancyDisclosureNSPStigma and predjudiceWater and sanitationHuman rights

Children should be seen and heard

Pupils at Hector Peterson High School

This episode of Siyayinqoba Beat It! explores how children are raised by their parents and how this impacts on their integration and socialisation into communities. There are many socially and culturally defined gender roles which shape and influence the way the child perceives the world to be, and how the world treats the child. This fascinating and vast subject is under the spotlight in this week's show. We see how pre-determined ideas about sex and other issues are all based on upbringing.

Our first segment from the Eastern Cape focuses on younger kids at a Primary School and what their perceptions of HIV/AIDS are. It's clear from the insert that children are aware of the dangers of indulging in sex too young and they reveal a maturity beyond their years while discussing this complicated subject. Back in the Support Group points are raised about the role of parenting in developing the child's understanding of sex and sexual negotiation. We see how the emphasis has shifted from educating girls to not fall pregnant to emphasizing the use of condoms.

Next our cameras travel to Jozi to see what young women think of dating, sex and condomising in the city. We see that if they're with a partner they trust they sometimes don't condomise and that girls who carry condoms in their bags are stigmatized as being "loose" and accused of "sleeping around". Our Support Group discusses the peer pressure they felt from the more "experienced" leader of a group of girls when they were the same age as the girls featured in the insert - pointing to the effects of peer pressure in promoting high risk behaviour.

Next we explore the men's perspective on sex, sexual negotiations (who insists on the condom) and HIV. We see the men feel that the responsibility for condomising lies with both parties, although this is usually easier said than done. The debate rages in the studio over the very different perceptions of women who carry condoms and their male counterparts.

The main thrust of the show is that it is easy to tell oneself that one won't have sex before marriage and will be faithful to one partner, but reality confronts all of us with different challenges. This makes it essential that young people are prepared, confident and willing to use condoms in any sexual situation they may be in. Protect yourself. Protect others.

IT'S A FACT

Night lights

Young woman getting ready for a night out in Jozi

Young men talking about condom negotiation

Young people partying

 Between 12 and 14 years of age only 1.9% of males and 1.5% of females report having had sex.
At the age of 15, 11.7% of males and 7.9% of females reported having had sex.
At the age of 20, 74.8% of males, and 80% of females reported having had sex.
Presently the trend is still for earlier initiation of sex.
Between the ages of 15 and 24, 27% of males and 6% of females reported having more than one sexual partner.
Between the ages of 25 and 49, 14.4% of males and 1.8% of females reported having more than one sexual partner.
400 million condoms were distributed in 2007, up from 267 million in 2001.
Even in the Western Cape, where 50 million condoms were distributed in 2007, this translates to an average of 22 condoms per adult male per year.  By contrast only 300 000 female condoms were distributed in the Western Cape.
In 2007 Mpumalanga distributed only 11 condoms per male over 15 years of age.
85% of people have easy access to condoms.
The Nelson Mandela HSRC 2005 National HIV Survey found that only 38% of men and women used a condom the last time they had sex.
In the 15-24 age group 66% of men and women used condoms the last time they had sex.
Under actual conditions condoms are 85% effective while under ideal conditions condoms are 100% effective research from the US National Institute of Infection Diseases has shown.
Inconsistent condom use is a feature of the South African HIV epidemic. A large number of people are still inclined to have unprotected sex, even with casual partners and the likelihood of using condoms decreases in relationships.
There is a great need for more education and positive role models for delaying age of commencement of sex, having fewer or only one sexual partner and much more active protection of both partners through using condoms and femidoms.