Sexual behaviour among the North-West University (Mafikeng Campus) students

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to examine sexual behaviour among students at North-West University (Mafikeng Campus). A high incidence of unplanned pregnancies and STIs among university students is indicative of engaging in various forms of sexual behaviour. Data was collected from registered students in North- West University (Mafikeng Campus) in 2013. A total of 531 questionnaires were completed. The study found that 89.3% of the students had had sexual intercourse. Almost all the male (93.4%) and about 85.4% of the female students participating in the study had had sexual intercourse experiences. More than half (57.5%) of the male and about 33% of the female students had their first sexual intercourse before the age of 17 years old. A little more than two thirds (63.9%) of the students used condoms at the last sexual intercourse, with about 54.5% of the female and 45.5% of the males using condoms at last sexual contact. More than half (54.8%) of the students had had sexual intercourse with another person while still in a relationship. The binary logistic models show that female students were less likely: to have had sex before the age of 17, to use condoms and have sexual intercourse with another person while in a relationship. This study provides empirical evidence which suggest that there is a need to strengthen interventions targeting University students, to enable them to make informed choices about their sexual behaviour.