The psychometric properties of a revised body image self-consciousness measure were examined using 11 correlate measures, including a measure of general body image, with a sample of male and female participants. A factor analysis of the BISC-R measure revealed one distinct factor, suggesting there are not male-oriented and female-oriented subscales, as hypothesized. Furthermore, results revealed no significant differences in correlations between body image self-consciousness and body image avoidance and the correlate measures, suggesting body image self-consciousness is essentially a construct similar to body image avoidance. Results provide support for future use of a body image avoidance measure as opposed to a body image self-consciousness measure in research as well as clinical settings. / Department of Psychological Science

As we enter the third decade of a devastating worldwide epidemic, much has been done to stem the flow of HIV/AIDS, in particular within North American and Western European urban centres. Successful prevention campaigns in the 1980s had the immediate impact of lowering the rate of HIV infection among gay men, and anti-retroviral drug therapies in the mid-1990s have literally brought thousands of gay men back from the brink. However, by the middle to late 1990s, epidemiological and anecdotal evidence has strongly suggested that gay men have begun to move away from the safer sex orthodoxy of the 1980s. / Forty gay men ranging in age from 21 to 55 were interviewed for this study in order to determine if they have changed their approach to safer sex strategies implemented in the mid-1980s. In contrast to approaches to risk behaviour that emphasize the Health Belief Model, with its focus on the rational individual, this dissertation focused on the social contexts that shape gay men's decisions. / This study found a number of factors that influenced gay men's sexual choices, including age and the changing role of community. Younger gay men, those who have come of age during the 1990s, have taken a different approach to the AIDS epidemic. None of the younger participants in this study had lost anyone to HIV. Furthermore, they were now part of a group of men who no longer considers a HIV diagnosis to be immediately fatal. New medications have definitely shifted their approach to AIDS. Finally, this group of gay men no longer feels defined by a gay community like older gay men interviewed for this study. They believe they are coming of age in a time and place where they have more choices in how they will define themselves as gay men. For older gay men, those who lost many lovers, friends, and acquaintances during the HIV epidemic, changes in gay men's sexual risk-taking are both surprising and inevitable. These men are dealing with issues of ageism, loss and lack of visibility in a changing gay community. / Although there are different age-related arguments for abandoning safer sex strategies, this study helps to explain why there is a definite shift in risk-taking behavior underway as we enter the third decade of HIV/AIDS. It suggests new challenges and approaches for AIDS service organizations to deal with a substantive change in gay men's sexual behaviour.

This thesis encompasses a study of the empty-nest stage of life. For the purposes of this study, the above-mentioned stage was defined as that period in the family when the youngest child matriculates. Thirty-five empty-nest couples were interviewed during 1984, in the city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The mean age of the subjects was 49.5, and the standard deviation was 4.9. The couples were asked about their attitudes towards the empty-nest, using a structured questionnaire, the Family Attitude Survey (FAS). This survey consisted of nine-point attitude statements, which focused on theoretical issues pertinent to this stage, viz. children are on-time or off-time with regard to major life events, impact of children leaving home on the parents, degree of parental involvement with children, parent-child relationships, ageing, sexuality, menopause, work-career, and attitudes towards the past, future and death. The general purpose of the present study was to determine the extent to which the empty-nest stage of life constitutes a negative crisis period, or a positive period of stability and growth for the empty-nest parents. Overall, it was concluded that the empirical evidence depicting the empty- nest stage of life as a positive period of stability and growth rather than a negative crisis period, is persuasive for some of the empty-nest parents in the present study, in view of the empirical findings regarding certain of the above-mentioned theoretical issues examined in the present thesis. Notwithstanding this, it was deemed essential to qualify the above conclusion, given the fact that the same and other respondents experienced difficulty with the following issues, viz. children being off-time with regard to major life events, the departure of children from the home, overinvolvement with children, problematic relationships with them, perceptions of themselves as failures as parents, inability to accept their own ageing, problems with changing sexuality, diminishing enjoyment in their occupations, and lack of prospects for future career advancement, negative preoccupation with the past and future, anxiety about death, and an impoverished marital relationship. It was also demonstrated empirically that wives experience particular psychological problems at this time, viz., firstly, they are more adversely affected by their children's departure from the home than their husbands, secondly, they undergo a rehearsal for widowhood more frequently than them, and thirdly, a minority of them are unable to come to terms with the menopause. Finally, the finding that the majority of wives experienced relief with the onset of the menopause when viewed from the perspectives of general emotional impact, children, and the spousal relationship, conflicts with existing theories in this area. However, it is supported by and large by the majority of empirical studies.

No description available.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Statistics indicate that not only HIV-infection and AIDS but all sexual and reproductive health problems are increasing globally. In order to address these issues the socio-cultural context in which sexual behaviour is expressed must be understood. Given that sexual health risks are compounded by socio-political and socio-economic issues, researchers must direct their focus to high-risk, low socio-economic communities. Adolescents have been identified as a prime target for sexual awareness and preventative programmes and research has stressed the importance of gaining an understanding of adolescent sexuality, in order to address the sexual health risks that threaten adolescents. In addition, there is a paucity of research on especially the role of the male adolescent in the study of sexual and reproductive health. In the current study, constructions of male adolescent sexuality in traditionally coloured and rural communities were explored. The nature of the research was exploratory and the aims were to determine the range and frequency of sexual behaviour that male adolescents in a specific community engage in and secondly, explore male adolescents' constructions of their sexuality and sexual behaviour in intimate heterosexual sexual relationships. Multiple methods of data collection were utilised. Self-report questionnaires were completed by 179 male adolescents between the age of 15 and 21, at two schools in the rural areas surrounding Stellenbosch. The data from the questionnaire was quantitatively analysed. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted with male adolescents between the age of 16 and 18. The data from the interviews was analysed qualitatively. An analysis of the data indicated that male adolescents' ability to take control over safe sex practices are undermined by attempts to defend and conceal their sexual behaviour and sexuality. Male adolescents from traditionally coloured and rural areas distance and externalise their sexual behaviour and sexuality. Sexual behaviour is explained and understood as being directed by external factors and by fear of negative evaluation by peers and parents. Such a construction of sexuality continues to prevent male adolescents from understanding and constructing their sexuality as self-owned and self-directed. In turn this construction continues to result in behaviour that runs counter to safe sex guidelines. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Statistieke toon dat alle seksueel-oordraagbare siektes en reproduktiewe gesondheidsprobleme, insluitend HIV-infeksie en VIGS, op globale vlak toeneem. Ten einde hierdie probleme aan te spreek is dit noodsaaklik om die sosio-kulturele konteks van seksualiteit en seksuele gedrag in ag te neem. Gegewe dat sosio-politiese en sosioekonomiese omstandighede 'n impak het op seksuele gesondheidsrisikos, word navorsers genoodsaak om hul fokus te rig op hoë-risiko, lae sosio-ekonomiese gemeenskappe. Adolessente word geïdentifiseer as primêre teikengroep vir bewustheids- en voorkomingsprogramme aangaande seksualiteit. Navorsing toon die belangrikheid aan van insig in adolessente seksualiteit, ten einde seksuele gesondheidsrisiko's in dié teikengroep aan te spreek. Verder is daar ook 'n leemte in navorsing betreffende die rol van die manlike adolessent in seksuele en reproduktiewe gesondheid. Hierdie studie het die konstruksies van manlike adolessente seksualiteit in tradisioneel "kleurling", landelike gemeenskappe ondersoek. Die navorsing is eksploratief van aard, met primêre doelwit 'n bepaling van die omvang en frekwensie van seksuele gedrag waarin manlike adolessente in 'n spesifieke gemeenskap deelneem. 'n Sekondêre doelwit is om manlike adolessente se konstruksies van hul seksualiteit en seksuele gedrag in intieme heteroseksuele verhoudings te ondersoek. Data-insameling het 'n kombinasie van metodes behels. Vraelyste is deur 179 manlike adolessente tussen die ouderdom van 15 en 21, komende uit twee skole in die Stellenboschdistrik, ingevul. Die data is kwantitatief geanaliseer. Verder is sewe in-diepte onderhoude met manlike adolessente tussen die ouderdom van 16 en 18 gevoer. Data uit hierdie onderhoude is kwalitatief geanaliseer. Die analise van die data het aangedui dat manlike adolessente se vermoë om beheer te neem oor veilige seksuele praktyk, ondermyn word deur pogings om hul seksualiteit en seksuele gedrag te verskans. Manlike adolessente vanuit tradisioneel "kleurling", landelike gemeenskappe distansiëer hulself van en eksternaliseer hul seksuele gedrag en seksualiteit. Seksuele gedrag word betekenis gegee en verstaan as gedrag wat deur eksterne faktore en die vrees vir negatiewe evaluering deur ouers en die portuurgroep, beheer word. Hierdie konstruksie van seksualiteit verhoed dat manlike adolessente hul seksualiteit in 'n konteks van selfbeheer en selfbesit kan betekenis gee. Sulke konstruksies dra daartoe by om veilige seksuele gedragsriglyne te ondermyn.

Black South African men who have sex with men (MSM) face a set of adverse circumstances, including economic hardship and stigmatization, that combine to put them at an elevated risk for hazardous substance use and HIV infection. This creates a context where substance use is normative and high-risk sexual behavior is often engaged in covertly and under the influence of intoxicating substances. The overarching objective of this dissertation was to explore determinants of hazardous drinking and HIV risk behavior among black South African MSM with a particular focus on the role of social networks. In order to achieve this, I used data drawn from the study, “HIV and Sexual Risk in African MSM in South African Townships” (R01-MH083557; PI: Sandfort, PhD). First, I conducted a systematic literature review to identify studies that used social network analysis to evaluate alcohol use among adults in order to answer the question: how have social network characteristics been shown to influence adults’ drinking behaviors, both in terms of characteristics of their network structures and characteristics of their network ties? Results of the review demonstrated that characteristics of one’s peers as well as social network structure influenced egos’ alcohol consumption in a variety of ways and across settings. Second, I described drug and alcohol use among black South African MSM and identified determinants of hazardous drinking, a highly prevalent form of alcohol use identified in the sample. The results showed that hazardous drinking was highly prevalent and multiple indicators of social vulnerability were identified as independent determinants of hazardous drinking. Third, I assessed the relationship between substance use and sexual risk behavior and explored the moderating effects of psychosocial factors. The results showed that there was not a main effect between substance use and sexual risk behavior; however, among men with high intentions to engage in safer sex, substance use was associated with increased risky sexual behavior. Overall, this dissertation increased our understanding of social networks, substance use and HIV risk behavior among black South African MSM. Our results suggest the importance of using pre-existing social networks to deliver potential interventions. The results also suggest that the most vulnerable members of this community are at increased risk of hazardous drinking. Lastly, efforts to reduce HIV risk behavior should focus on both increasing safer sex intentions and negating the impact of substance use on sexual risk behavior. Taken together, these studies provide insight for developing potential interventions, including intervention that use social network data to facilitate behavioral change, as well as undertaking further research among a critical population.

For the first twenty-five years of Ghana’s national response to HIV/AIDS, the government, like most nations in Africa, did not include gay and bisexual—locally known as sasoi—and other men who have sex with men (MSM) as a high-risk group for HIV in its policies. In 2011, Ghana finally addressed this policy blind spot by acknowledging sasoi and other MSM as a key population at-risk for HIV and in need of policy and programmatic interventions—a shift that is occurring in many parts of Africa. Using Ghana as a case study of this policy shift on the continent, my dissertation examined: why sasoi and other MSM were not initially acknowledged in Ghana’s national AIDS policies; why and how the government decided to include MSM as a key population in its national AIDS policies and programs; what cultural, social, and political factors have affected the development, implementation, and reception of these policies and programs; how sasoi and other MSM perceive and experience these policy and programmatic efforts; and how sasoi and other MSM experience life in a country that criminalizes and stigmatizes same-sex sexual activities. Using ethnographic methods, I conducted a 12-month qualitative study in Ghana. I conducted: interviews with 43 state and non-state policymakers and stakeholders, HIV frontline workers, and sasoi and other MSM; focus group interviews with 18 peer educators; participant observations of policy and HIV prevention work, and meetings and other events related to the research scope; and archival research of media coverage of homosexuality. My findings indicate that Ghana’s MSM policy blind spot was due to: 1) the criminalization and stigmatization of same-sex sexualities in the country, 2) a construction of the Ghanaian epidemic as driven by migrant female sex workers, and 3) international AIDS researchers’ categorization of HIV in Africa as heterosexual, which informed donor policies and stipulations. However, in 2011, the government shifted to include MSM as a KP at risk for HIV in light of mounting epidemiological data on MSM HIV prevalence and risk, NGO advocacy efforts, and international donor policy changes that now recognize MSM as a KP in Africa. I conceptualize this change as a paradigm shift in Ghana’s national AIDS policies from a general population paradigm to a key populations paradigm that includes MSM as biomedical citizens at higher risk for HIV. The country’s progress in addressing HIV among sasoi and other MSM using evidence-based policies has earned it status as a model country in Africa in MSM HIV efforts. Stakeholders, however, face significant challenges rooted in the country’s sociocultural context, namely institutionalized homophobia and heterosexism, a dated and underfunded healthcare system, and inadequate HIV funding. Implementation of MSM HIV policies has come into conflict with the country’s legal and sociocultural realities in Ghana, where male same-sex sexual activities are criminalized and socially stigmatized. Moreover, stakeholders are strategically discreet in how they implement MSM HIV policies and programs and are hesitant to publicly push any advocacy efforts that might come across as supporting or promoting homosexuality, in fear of social and political retribution. Despite this strategy, I argue that MSM HIV efforts have attracted public attention and criticism and have constituted, in part, the politicization of homosexuality in Ghana, reshaping public representations and perceptions of homosexuality and presenting challenges to the ongoing efforts to address HIV among MSM. Stakeholders must evaluate these unintended consequences alongside the intended policy objectives and outcomes to strengthen efforts to reduce the burden of HIV among sasoi and other MSM in Ghana.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Public Health)) --University of Limpopo, 2005 / In rural areas, most women carry the burden of preventing unwanted pregnancies alone. Most of the men are not aware of the benefits of contraceptives. They mostly complain that the contraceptives their partners use make them sick. Men have a negative attitude towards the use of contraceptives and do not share the responsibility of contraceptive use with their partners. Aim: Aim of this study was to determine men’s knowledge, practices, and attitudes on the use of contraceptives in a village of Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods: Five focus group discussions were held with groups of men between the ages of 20 and 50 in the five villages of Ga-Sekororo. The researcher used an audio tape to record what participants said during group sessions and made some observational notes to supplement the tape recordings. The researcher used a topic guide to direct and guide sessions with each of the group meetings in order to understand their knowledge, practices, and attitudes towards the use of contraceptives. Results: Some of the men were able to list the various methods of contraceptives available, the benefits of contraception, and the negative consequences of unprotected sex. Only 32% indicated a willing ness to use a male contraceptive pill when available which indicated unwillingness in most men to share the responsibility of contraception with their partners in spied of their knowledge of the benefits of contraception. Ninety two percent of men prefer the first-born child to be a male and if it happens to be a female, will continue to have children until a male is born. Programmes to address the reproductive health needs of men are needed and when implemented will benefit women as well. The government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should work together to fulfil this need. / The Ford Foundation International Fellowship Programme

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of sexually aggressive behavior through the examination of humor appreciation among male undergraduates. As compared to nonaggressive males, sexually aggressive males showed a significantly greater appreciation for humor which negatively stereotyped females, portrayed prejudicial views of rape-and rape victims, and contained content related to male sex drive and virility. Differences in humor appreciation were also found for males with high sex drive. Additional findings included correlations between aggressive drive and sexually aggressive status, as well as between sex drive and likelihood to rape.

Zimbabwe is one of the priority countries nominated by the World Health Organisation and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS to adopt and implement voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) because of its high rate of HIV prevalence and its low level of male circumcision. VMMC, which was introduced in Zimbabwe in 2009, is a new HIV prevention method which reportedly offers partial protection of about 60 percent for circumcised males with respect to contracting HIV through sexual relations. The other key prevention method, namely the use of condoms consistently and correctly, has a protection rate of up to 95 percent. As a result, because of only partial protection, medically-circumcised men are encouraged to use condoms to decrease the chances of HIV infection. Concerns though have been raised about the possibility of risk compensation by circumcised males by way of increases in unsafe or risky sexual practices subsequent to circumcision and arising from perceptions of reduced risk through VMMC. This compensation may take the form of condom use aversion including when involved with concurrent sexual partners. If risk compensation does take place, this would lead to increases in HIV transmissions affecting not only the circumcised men but their sexual partners as well. The supposed effectiveness of VMMC as a HIV prevention method has been subjected to significant criticism and, as yet, no significant study has been undertaken in Zimbabwe on the relationship between VMMC, condom use, concurrent sexual partners and risk compensation. Based on a study of twenty-five medically-circumcised males in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, this thesis seeks to understand and explain the relationship between voluntary medical male circumcision and risky sexual practices with particular reference to condom use amongst men engaged in concurrent sexual partnerships. While the thesis finds evidence of risky sexual practices subsequent to circumcision, risk compensation does not seem to be particularly prevalent.