Abstract
An individual’s perception of safe sex practices is influenced by the social sexual scripts that they develop through their interactions with their environment. This study conducted a qualitative enquiry of University of Johannesburg post-graduate students’ perceptions of (i) safe sex practices and (ii) services of the University’s Institutional Office for HIV and AIDS (IOHA). The investigation was conducted through the lens of social sexual script theory. Seven interviews were conducted with post-graduate students from UJ’s Kingsway Campus. The findings revealed how current social sexual scripts were influenced by cultural and religious norms, and how the interpersonal adaptation of scripts influenced the intrapsychic preferences of individuals. In particular, the findings revealed how current perceptions of safe sex practices were influenced by fear, trust, communication and the age or level of maturity of the individual. UJ IOHA services were viewed in both a positive and a negative light. To enhance these services, participant suggestions included extending IOHA’s reach through intensive marketing initiatives and improving HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns. This included biomedical prevention, greater accessibility to barrier methods, increasing women’s agency through greater promotion of female condoms, more open communication about sex and increasing HIV testing on campus.
M.A. (Social Work)