USAID SOUTH AFRICA SCHOOL-BASED SEXUAL AND HIV PREVENTION EDUCATION ACTIVITY GENDER ATTITUDES, SELF-EFFICACY AND BEHAVIOURAL INTENTIONS ISSUE BRIEF 4

Research has established a link between intimate partner violence and HIV infection, with studies showing an increase in HIV infection among women who experience violence from their partners. Self-efficacy plays a crucial role in influencing social and self-regulative skills, as well as personal control over sexual encounters. According to the theory of planned behaviour, behavioural intentions are a mediator in the influence of attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy on behaviour. The literature on the relationship between behavioural intentions and behaviour has had mixed findings, but behavioural intentions remain one of the strongest predictors of future behaviour. To assess adolescent girls' gender attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavioural intentions, a classroom-based assessment was conducted in three schools in Mpumalanga and three schools in Gauteng. A total of 495 adolescent girls across the six schools completed a self-administered survey. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants, and any conclusions drawn should be interpreted cautiously. The results showed that more than two-thirds (68.4%) of adolescent girls in Bohlabela believe it is only the women's job to avoid getting pregnant, whereas just under half (48.8%) of adolescent girls in Johannesburg West believe it is only the women's job to avoid getting pregnant. More than three-quarters (Bohlabela: 74.8% and Johannesburg West: 81.4%) of adolescent girls are confident that they could refuse to have sex with their current partner if they were being pressured to have sex. The majority (Bohlabela: 63.2% and Johannesburg West: 81.4%) of adolescent girls felt that they could resist having sex with someone who offered them a meal, gifts, money, or a favour for sex. The majority (Bohlabela: 86.1% and Johannesburg West: 95.5%) of adolescent girls believe that the information they received from Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) would positively influence condom use. The majority (Bohlabela: 86.5% and Johannesburg West: 96.3%) of adolescent girls also believe that CSE is a positive prompt to get an HIV test in the next two years. The results suggest that gender inequitable attitudes are widespread in Bohlabela, and these types of attitudes should be addressed by Life Orientation teachers in the curriculum. Patriarchy is a fundamental organising principle of society, with men holding more power than women, which structures women's and men's experiences and relationships. The ability to refuse transactional sex among adolescent girls in Bohlabela needs to be investigated further, as it may be linked to factors such as food insecurity or aspirations among young women. Adolescent girls in both districts have highlighted the positive impact of CSE has had on adopting safer sexual practices and accessing HIV testing services. This is a good starting point to ensure risky sexual behaviour is kept to a minimum among adolescent girls, although it may not necessarily mean that risky behaviours will be reduced at best. In terms of changing knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behaviours, some approaches were found to be more effective than others in school-based programmes. CSE content must respond appropriately to the needs of young people in order to be effective, and this adaptability is crucial for culturally relevant education. Curricula-based education is more effective when it addresses gender norms and power, and how power inequalities in relationships influence the ability of individuals to protect their health. The findings of this study have implications for the development of effective school-based programmes that address the needs of adolescent girls in South Africa. By understanding the complex relationships between gender attitudes, self-efficacy, and behavioural intentions, educators and policymakers can develop targeted interventions that promote safer sexual practices and reduce the risk of HIV infection among adolescent girls.