Abstract:
Condoms protect against unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections,
including HIV, among all population groups including adolescents. Correct use of
condoms prevents between 80% and 95% of HIV transmission. Furthermore, the
usefulness of condoms in preventing pregnancy or STIs rests on the user. Thus, the
possibility of pregnancy or STI transmission is greater when condoms are not utilised
appropriately and regularly with every sexual act. The aim of the study was to
determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of high school learners on the use
of condoms in the Greater Giyani Municipality. A quantitative, descriptive research
design was used. The researcher used a probability-stratified random sampling
method to select respondents from schools that were selected to participate in the
study. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of close-ended questions was
used to collect data. The questionnaires were given to learners to complete. Data
were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24.
Descriptive and inferential statistics were used during data analysis. Data are
presented in charts and frequency tables. Most of the respondents were aged 15-17
years (57.8%). There were more female than male respondents in the study and
most respondents lived with both parents (14.9%). There were more respondents in
Grade 12 (37.3%) than in other grades: 27.7% of the respondents were in Grade 10,
while 35% were in Grade 11. Most of the respondents (88.7%) knew that condoms
offer protection against HIV/AIDS, STIs and pregnancy, but many held negative
attitudes towards condoms (56.5%) because they thought that condoms reduced
pleasure during sexual intercourse. The majority (77.3%) of the respondents had
engaged in sex, and half of these (50%) sometimes used condoms when they
engaged in sexual intercourse. Male respondents were found to have power over
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their partners on the making of decisions regarding condom use. Peer pressure was
found to be one of the most significant factors that influenced condom use. Parents
and guardians of the respondents were discovered to have communicated about
sexual issues with their children. High school learners should be encouraged to
refrain from using substances such as alcohol, because when they are under the
influence of these substances and engage in sexual intercourse they can be
unwilling to use condoms .
