Exploring constructions of masculinities and their influence on sexual practice, HIV risk and health-seeking behaviours of men in Malukazi/Malagazi informal settlement in Durban = Ukucubungula izakhiwomumo zobudoda nomthelela wendelakuziphatha ngezobulili, ingcuphe ye-HIV nokuziphatha yokufuna ukuphila kwamadoda emikhukhwini yaseMalukazi/ Malagazi eThekwini.

Abstract

Introduction: This study explores the role masculinity plays in shaping HIV-related risks and the health-seeking behaviours of young men residing in Malukazi, an informal settlement located in Durban, South Africa. Traditional notions of masculinity often influence health behaviours, including perceptions of HIV-related risk and healthcare utilisation. Understanding the intersection between masculinity and HIV-related risks and health-seeking behaviours is crucial for the development of targeted context-specific interventions meant to address the HIV epidemic among young men in informal settlements of South Africa. Methods: The study adopted a qualitative approach, which involved in-depth interviews faceto-face and focus-group discussions with 23 young men aged 15-25 from Malukazi. Three focus group discussions (FGD) and 17 individual interviews (IDI) were conducted. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse, interpret and present the data. Findings: The findings indicate that masculine attributes are associated with being ‘umjita’, a tsotsitaal concept meaning a young man and ‘amajita’, meaning a group of young men that significantly shaped young men's health-seeking behaviours in Malukazi. Risky sexual behaviours, such as engaging in MSR/MSP and inconsistent condom use, were perceived as integral to Amajita’s identity and masculine prowess and are an important need to prove one’s masculinity to Amajita. Moreover, the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS and fear of emasculation were found to deter young men from seeking HIV testing and healthcare services. Conclusion: The findings highlight the critical role masculinity plays in shaping HIV risks and health-seeking behaviours among young men in Malukazi. Addressing the traditional norms of masculinity is essential as it promotes HIV prevention and care initiatives tailored to address the needs of this vulnerable population. There is a need to conduct research with the aim of providing an evidence base to develop and implement Interventions that challenge harmful gender norms, empower young men so that they adopt healthier behaviours and provide culturally sensitive healthcare services that prioritise confidentiality and respect. Addressing the intersection of masculinity with HIV-related risks and health-seeking behaviours can help advance efforts being made to mitigate the impact of the HIV epidemic among young men residing in informal settlements such as Malukazi.

Iqoqa. Isingeniso: Ucwaningo lucubungula indima edlalwa ubudoda ekuvezeni izingcuphe ezihlobene ne-HIV ezinsizweni ezihlala eMalukazi, emikhukhwini eThekwini, eNingizimu Afrikha. Okwendabuko kokobudoda okuvame ukuba nomthelela wokuziphatha ngokokwelapha, okufaka ingcuphe ehlobene ne-HIV nokusebenza konakekelokwelapha. Ukuqonda impambanokuxhumana phakathi kobudoda nezingcuphe ezihlobene ne-HIV nokuziphatha okufuna impilo kubalulekile ekuthuthukeni kokungenelela okugxile engqikithini okufanele kubhekane nobhubhane lwe-HIV ezinsizweni ezihlala emikhukhwini eNingizimu Afrikha. Izindlela zokwenza ucwaningo: Ucwaningo lusebenzise indlelakwenza yekhwalithethivu, okufaka izimposambuzo ezenziwa ubuso nobuso nezingxoxo zamaqembu okubonisana namadoda asemancane angama-23 aneminyaka ephakathi kweyi-15-25 aseMalukazi. Izingxoxo zamaqembu asophiwe (focus group discussions (FGD)) kanye nezimposambuzo zabantu ngabanye abayi-17 (individual interviews (IDI)) kwenziwa. Ukuhlaziya ngokwezingqikithi kwasetshenziswa ukuhlaziya, ukutolika nokwethula imininingo. Okutholakele: Okutholakele kukhombe ukuthi izinkombabulili kuhlobene nokuba wu ‘mjita’, igama lesitsotsi elichaza insizwa kanti ‘amajita’, achaza iqembu lezinsizwa nokuyinto eyenze izinsizwa ziziphathe ngendlela efuna ukwelashwa eMalukazi. Indlelakuziphatha esengcupheni, njengokuzibandakanya kwi-MSR/MSP nokusebenzisa ijazi locansi, ayethathwa njengabalulekile oqotsheni lwaMajita nokuphakamisa ubudoda kanti kuyisidingo esibalulekile ukukhombisa ubudoda baMajita. Ngaphezu kwalokho, isithibezi elihambelana ne-HIV ne-AIDS nokusaba ukususwa kobudoda kwatholakala kuvimbela izinsizwa ukuba zihlolelwe i-HIV nezinsiza zokunakekelwa ngokwempilo. Isiphetho: Okutholakele kukhanyisa indima ebalulekile ebudodeni ukubhekana nezingcuphe ze-HIV nokuziphatha okufuna impilo ezinsizweni zaseMalukazi. Ukubhekana nokubekwe okwendabuko kobudoda kubalulekile njengoba kuphakamisa ukuvikela i-HIV nemizamo yokunakekela okwakhelwa ukubhekana nezidingo zalo mphakathi osengcupheni. Kunesidingo sokwenza ucwaningo ngenhloso yokuhlinzeka ubufakazi ukuthuthukisa noqalisa ukusebenza ukungenelela okulwisana namagciwane ayingozi, ukunika amandla izinsizwa ukuze zithathe ukuziphatha okunempilo nokuhlinzeka imisebenzi yonakekelokwelapha okugxile emasikweni okubeka phambili ubumfihlo nenhlonipho. Ukubhekana nokuxhumana kobudoda nezingcuphe ezihlobene ne-HIV nokuziphatha okufuna impilo kungasiza ukuphucula imizamo kwenziwa ukubhekana nomthelela we-HIV ezinsizweni ezihlala emikhukhwini yaseMalukazi.