Sexuality among adolescents in rural and urban South Africa
Abstract The aim of this study was to better understand sexuality and social change of adolescents in the context of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. The sample included 400 male and 400 female 16 or 17 year-olds; 400 from rural and 400 from urban areas, and almost all of African descent. Participants were chosen by multi-stage cluster and quota sampling. Results indicate that urban adolescents significantly had more often engaged in petting, masturbation and anal or oral sex than rural adolescents. Over their lifetimes, urban adolescents had a significantly higher number of partners with whom they had sexual intercourse than rural adolescents. The age of first sexual intercourse was lower among urban than among rural adolescents. Urban females seem to take more initiative at first sexual intercourse than rural females. Whereas the most frequent sexual practice for rural adolescents was sexual intercourse and petting, for urban adolescents it was kissing and cuddling and petting. By better linking HIV prevention to research on human sexuality and social change, it should prove possible to advance the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.