Effect of parental investment on sexual concurrency among young adults in metropolitan Cape Town, South Africa

Background

Overlapping sexual partners have recently been cited as the driver behind the high HIV prevalence rates found in Southern Africa. Since parental influence has been shown to have an impact on the behavior of their children, this study assesses the extent to which parental investment in young adults (ages 14-22) were associated with timing of sexual partners.

Methods

Data were from two waves of the Cape Area Panel Study (2002 and 2005).

Sexual concurrency was measured in two ways: (1) Sexual calendars were constructed using responses to questions about the start month/year, and duration of sexual relationships, and (2) Responses to direct questions addressing overlapping sexual partners for their ten most recent sexual relationships.

Parental investment was measured as: (1) Time spent with young adult (spent the night under the same roof, spent time together one-on-one, ate meals together), (2) Conversations about personal matters (talked with young adult about HIV/AIDS and education), and (3) Financial support (given young adult money for school, presents or an allowance).

Probit regression models were used, with controls for individual factors (e.g. age and gender) and contextual setting (e.g. area of residence).

Results

Young adults with parents who had spent more time with them, spoken to them about HIV/AIDS, and given them pocket money were less likely to be involved in sexual concurrency.

Conclusions

The results highlight the role played by parents in influencing sexual concurrency. Further research should explore the pathways in which this occurs, to help make HIV prevention campaigns more effective.