Premarital relationships and condom use among young people in Suva, Fiji

Abstract

Background Young people in Fiji experience high rates of sexually transmissible infections and early pregnancy. Despite being identified as a key priority group in national strategies, little is known about use of condoms among young people in premarital relationships. This study aimed to enhance understandings of premarital sex and condom use practices among young people in Fiji. Methods: Focus group discussions with 33 young women and men aged 18–29 years and 17 interviews with young women aged 18–26 years in an urban setting in Fiji were conducted. Inductive thematic analysis examined condom use practices. Results: Participants described a range of contextual influences inhibiting or enabling condom use. Factors inhibiting condom use included sociocultural expectations regarding premarital abstinence; young people’s engagement in hidden sexual relationships; limited intergenerational dialogue about sexual health issues; judgmental attitude of staff at condom access points; male dominance of condom use preferences; and belief condoms disrupt intimacy, reduce sexual pleasure and infer a lack of trust. Factors that enhanced condom use included accessing condoms through discreet methods; adult beliefs that supported safe sex practices; and refusing to have sex without a condom. Conclusion: Findings broaden understandings of young people’s condom use practices in Suva, Fiji. The findings illustrate the need for culturally appropriate youth-centred sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs and services. Specific strategies that might enhance young people’s condom use include community- and youth-led responses; peer condom distribution; provision of condom dispensers in community settings; scaling up of youth-friendly SRH services; and the delivery of comprehensive sexuality and relationships education.

“I Always Prefer To Withdraw Than Use A Condom”: A Phenomenological Study of Condomless Sexual Practice Among International Students in Sydney

“…Although condom availability increases likelihood of use 42 , ndings of the present study indicate that reluctance to use condoms for several reasons, including condom-related stigma, could discourage some young people from accessing and being in possession of condoms. This nding is also supported by ndings of previous studies among participants in settings where conservative sexual cultures are prevalent 11,12,43 . Consequently, sexual health interventions designed for this group of international students should address lack of con dence in accessing condoms as well as reluctance to use a condom when it is available.…”

“…Notably, the fear of feeling judged, plays a role in condomless sex among some participants, as it affects condom access as well as its use, even when it is available. This stigma may be attributed to socio-cultural expectation about premarital sexual abstinence 12 and norms associating condoms with in delity and sexual permissiveness 10,39,40 . Despite migrating to a setting with a more liberal sexual culture, sexual perceptions and practices of young people from conservative cultures may still be partly in uenced by their home cultural sexual norms 21 .…”

“…Therefore, condomless sex has been identi ed as a common cause of STI and BBV infection among young people 9 . A substantial amount of research has been undertaken to assess condom use and its determinants among young people in a variety of settings 6,10,11,12 . The present study adds to this body of knowledge by contextualising condomless sex among East Asian and sub-Saharan African international students in Sydney, based on their lived experiences and construction of their social realities.…”

“I always prefer to withdraw than use a condom”: contextualising condomless sex among East Asian and sub-Saharan African international students in Sydney

“…Notably, the fear of feeling judged, plays a role in condomless sex among some participants, as it affects condom access as well as its use, even when it is available. This stigma may be attributed to socio-cultural expectation about premarital sexual abstinence [12] and norms associating condoms with infidelity and sexual permissiveness [10,39,40]. Despite migrating to a setting with a more liberal sexual culture, sexual perceptions and practices of young people from conservative cultures may still be partly influenced by their home cultural sexual norms [21].…”

“…Therefore, condomless sex has been identified as a common cause of STI and BBV infection among young people [9]. A substantial amount of research has been undertaken to assess condom use and its determinants among young people in a variety of settings [6,[10][11][12]. The present study adds to this body of knowledge by contextualising condomless sex among East Asian and sub-Saharan African international students in Sydney, based on their lived experiences and construction of their social realities.…”