Adolescents and Young Women’s Perceived Reasons for the Continued HIV/AIDS Prevalence in Kumba, Cameroon: A Qualitative Study

In Kumba, Cameroon, health education messages apparently succeeded in imparting knowledge but not in changing youths’ risky sexual behaviours. Heterosexual transmission of HIV remains a challenge, especially where female adolescents and young women are not able to negotiate safe sexual practices. The purpose of this study was to examine adolescents and young women’s perceived reasons for the continued HIV/AIDS prevalence in the city of Kumba of the South West region of Cameroon. This region has an HIV/AIDS prevalence of 5.7%, which is above the Cameroon national prevalence of 4.3%. A qualitative research design was adopted, using semi-structured in-depth interviews, conducted with a purposive sample of ten (10) female adolescents and young women, to deliberate on their perceived reasons for the continued spread of HIV/AIDS in Kumba, Cameroon, despite availability of information on the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The participating female adolescents and young women perceived that there is a continued spread of HIV/AIDS in Kumba, Cameroon because of multiple sexual partners and unprotected sexual intercourse, especially among female adolescents, due to poverty; disbelief in the existence of HIV/AIDS and neglect of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services. Consequently, health education messages provided knowledge, but did not result in preventive behaviours. Ways should be found for health education messages to result in appropriate actions based on appropriate knowledge. Female adolescents need to be economically empowered and financially independent before they can practice safer sexual intercourse.