The gender dimensions of social networks and help-seeking behaviors of young adults in Soweto, South Africa.
BACKGROUND
Young people constitute a major proportion of the general population and are influenced by a variety of factors, especially in regards to seeking help. An understanding of help-seeking behaviors among young people is important for designing and implementing effective targeted health services.


METHODS
We conducted in-depth interviews with 23 young adults aged 21-22 years in Soweto, South Africa, to explore the gender dimensions of social networks and help-seeking behaviors.


RESULTS
We found that young men had larger peer social networks than young women and that young women's social networks centered on their households. For general health, both young men and young women often sought help from an older, maternal figure. However, for sexual health, young men consulted their group of peers, whereas young women were more likely to seek information from one individual, such as an older female friend or family member.


CONCLUSIONS
These differences in help-seeking behaviors have important implications for the delivery of health information in South Africa and how health promotion is packaged to young men and women, especially for sexual and reproductive health issues. Peer educators might be very effective at conveying health messages for young men, whereas women might respond better to health information presented in a more confidential setting either through community health workers or mHealth technologies. Provision of or linkage to health services that is consistent with young people's health-seeking behavior, such as using peer educators and community health care workers, may increase the reach and utilization of these services among young people.
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.|MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kathryn
K
Meagley
MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Brittany
B
Schriver
MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|Department of Population Studies, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Rebecca S
RS
Geary
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Rebecca
R
Fielding-Miller
MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.|Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Aryeh D
AD
Stein
Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.
Kristin L
KL
Dunkle
MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Shane.Norris@wits.ac.za.
Shane A
SA
Norris
D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D060728:Reproductive Health; D034121:Reproductive Health Services; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult
South Africa; health services; help-seeking behavior; reproductive health; sexual health; social support; young adult