Abstract:
Youth in Tanzania and the world at large are among the vulnerable
population to HIV infection. Adherence to HIV prevention remains a
challenge in Tanzania despite the efforts to curb the pandemic. The
purpose of this study was to examine cultural practices that impede
adherence to HIV prevention among the youth. The study adopted a
cross-sectional design. The respondents were selected through simple
random sampling among secondary school students and out of school
youth aged 15–35 years in Kisarawe District Coast Region, Tanzania.
Data were collected through a structured questionnaire, non-participant
observation and documentary review. A total of 146 respondents were
involved in the study. The study findings show that customs that
encourage early marriage, values and norms that limit negotiation for
safe sex and traditions that limit discussion about sexuality issues were
a challenge to adherence to HIV prevention among youth. Adherence to
HIV prevention and access to sexuality education and reproductive
health information was found to be low among youth. The study
concludes that customs encouraging early marriage, values and norms
limiting negotiation for safe sexual practices, traditions that limit
discussions about sexuality issues and night ceremonies significantly
impede youth adherence to HIV prevention. The government and non governmental organisations should ensure implementation of policies
and laws against traditional practices that tend to increase youth
vulnerability. HIV prevention programmes targeted to youth should
focus on sensitisation on harmful cultural practices and ensure the
availability of comprehensive sexual education among the youth
population.
