Abstract #162  -  Social Networks, Health Seeking Behaviour and HIV testing among South African University Students
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Professor Marian Pitts - La Trobe University
Additional Authors:  Dr Jeffrey Grierson, Prof Anthony Smith, Mr Vernon Solomon, Prof Graham  Lindegger, Prof Kevin Durrheim,
Aim: Limited information is available on the HIV knowledge, HIV testing practices and sexual practices of the student population in South African universities. This group represents a highly sexually active population of significant economic and social import for the country’s future. This paper reports on the relationship between social network characteristics and health seeking and HIV testing practices from a survey of tertiary students at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal Pietermaritzburg campus.
Method / Issue: Students from the campus were invited to complete an anonymous intranet based survey consisting of 50 items in the domains of: demographics (age, gender, racial identification, area of residence); social network characteristics (size, age gender and racial composition); health status and health seeking (use of health services, sources of health information, HIV testing history, STI testing).
Results / Comments: 589 students completed the survey. The demographic profile of the sample was 57% female, aged between 18 and 54 (mean = 23, median =22), and 36% lived on campus. Racially, 61% reported they were Black, 21% White, 12% Indian and 6% mixed race or other. Students had a median of three close friends. 47% had tested for HIV ever and 33% in the previous 12 months. 15% had had an STI screen in the previous 12 months. 51% had used Campus health services in the previous year. Participants were most likely to report their primary source of health information to be: their regular doctor (40%), the media (59%), parents (50%) or friends (49%). HIV testing in the previous 12 months was not associated with gender but was significantly more common among Blacks and those who lived on campus. STI testing in the previous 12 months was most common among those with larger friendship groups. Use of campus health services was most common among women who lived on campus.
Discussion: Health seeking and sexual health testing behaviours among this important population are mediated by socio-demographic factors and characteristics of their social networks. Effective targeting of prevention and support services needs to take these factors into account.
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