HIV Prevention Practices Among South African University Students

Since 2005, the decline in HIV incidence has slowed down, and there is a need to optimise prevention services among young people to sustain and accelerate the HIV decline. This study aimed to describe HIV prevention practices among university students in South Africa. The Arksey and O’Malley Framework for conducting scoping reviews was used. South African studies that described the HIV prevention practices among university students, published in English from 2015 to 2025, were included. The search strategy was developed on the 8 December 2024, then on the 7 November 2025, and five databases were searched using key search terms: university students, HIV prevention, and South Africa. Two reviewers selected articles and extracted data using an extraction tool developed by the researchers. Extracted data was analysed using content analysis. Consultation was performed with students, conveniently selected from one university, and data was collected using interviews. Data from these students was analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis. Thirteen studies were included in the review. Most (30.8%) were from KwaZulu-Natal province. A total of 15 students aged between 19 and 22 years were consulted. Most (53.3%) students were female. HIV prevention interventions used included HIV testing, which was sub-optimal due to stigma. Students also used condoms, although female condom use was minimal. Biomedical HIV prevention interventions used included post-exposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis, and these were used together with other HIV prevention interventions. Gaps remain to ensure optimal HIV prevention practices, and it is recommended that other biological HIV prevention methods like voluntary medical male circumcision, should be utilised.