The Human Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (HSSREC) of the Faculty of Humanities at North-West University (NWU-01152-24-S7) has approved the ethics and gatekeeping for this study. It might be necessary for the research ethics committee members or relevant authorities to inspect the research records to make sure that we (the researchers) are conducting research in an ethical manner.

Informed consent statement

You are being invited to take part in a research project titled “Examining the attitudes and determinants of contraceptive use among male students at the North-West University” that forms part of my PhD study. This is a research study being conducted by Ms Germinah Motshegwa, a student at North-West University Population Studies and Demography department.  It should take approximately 20 - 30 minutes to complete the questions. Please take some time to read the information presented here, which will explain the details of this project.

Voluntary participation

Your participation is entirely voluntary and you are free to decline to participate. If you say no, this will not affect you negatively in any way whatsoever. You are also free to withdraw from the study at any point, even if you do agree to take part. Prior to publication of the study’s results (or the point that publication is in process), you may also withdraw the data you generate. The study is two-fold, and you may be invited to participate in the second phase. Participation on either phase is purely voluntary.

What is this research study all about?

• This study is an investigation of male students’ of the North-West University attitudes and use of contraceptives and will involve the use of sequential mixed methods.
• Approximately 300 participants will be included in this study.
• The objectives of this research are:
• To investigate the behavioural and socio-demographic factors influencing male students’ attitudes towards contraception at North-West University.
• To assess the behavioural and socio-demographic factors associated with contraceptive use among male students at North-West University.
• To determine the attitudes of male students on contraceptive use at North-West University.
• To develop an effective intervention strategy to educate and improve the use contraceptives of male students at North-West University.

Why have you been invited to participate?

• You have been invited to participate because you are a male student of the North-West University.
• You have also complied with the following inclusion criteria: currently registered male student aged 18 years and above.
• You will be excluded if you are a female, a male student below the age of 18 years.

What will your responsibilities be?

• You will be invited to participate in the noted study by questionnaires and focus group discussions.
• You will have 24 hours to indicate whether you would be willing to participate.
• You will be requested to sign this Informed Consent Statement before the commencement of the study.

Will you benefit from taking part in this research?

• You could benefit directly from discussing issues concerning contraceptives with other participants in the group. This is where you will be able to hear the differing opinions and thoughts of other students and their experiences.
• Indirectly, the findings of this study may assist in creating interventions that might assist male students with access to contraceptives and awareness. The research findings will be presented and discuss with the campus health centre with hopes of assisting in developing an intervention strategy to educate and improve the use of contraceptives use among male students of the NWU.
• This intervention will include sharing information about the findings and recommendations of the study with male students. 

Are there risks involved in your taking part in this research and how will these be managed?

The possible risks in this study, and how these will be managed, are summarised in the table below:

There are no foreseeable risks involved in participating in this study. However, in case of emotional distress, the interview will be stopped to allow the participants sometime to decide if they want to continue. If not, they will be referred to the Student Counselling and Development Centres of the Mafikeng, Potchefstroom or Vanderbijlpark campuses (depending on their campus) which will aid with such services to any participant who will need them. Contact details of the SCDCs are as follows:

Mahikeng

Lerato Wana

lerato.wana@nwu.ac.za

+27183892860

Potchefstroom

Marelize Van Der Merwe

marelize.vandermerwe@nwu.ac.za

+27182992894

Vanderbijlpark

Harm Arie Stavast

harm.stavast@nwu.ac.za

+27169103194

Tiredness and discomfort.

Comfort breaks of 5 minutes.

Lack of privacy and comfort during interviews due.

This will be addressed by signing the confidentiality pledge and the informed consent form to ensure that the information shared in the discussion does not leave the room.

The questionnaires will be conducted online where participants may choose their location. The FGDs will be conducted on the campus premises where it is secured and guarded by the NWU protection services employees. The FGDs will be conducted in conference rooms which the researcher will request, book and secure across the three campuses to ensure that the students are safe and will not be seen.

• However, we do believe that the benefits to you and to the campus health centre outweigh the risks we have listed. If you disagree, then please feel free not to participate in this study. We will respect your decision.
• Should we learn, in the course of the research, that someone is harming you, or that you are intending to harm someone, then we must tell someone who can help you/warn the person you are intending to harm.

What will happen to the data?

• The data from this study will be reported in the following ways: thesis write up and article writing. In all of this reporting, you will not be personally identified. This means that the reporting will not include your name or details that will help others to know that you participated.
• Data may be re-used in the form of writing of articles and presenting the findings in conferences.

Will you be paid/compensated to take part in this study and are there any costs involved?

The participants will not be compensated to participate in the study. However, water will be provided for the focus group discussion participants during the sessions.

How will you know about the findings?

• The study will also be made available and published on the NWU Boloka Repository for easy access for the students and stakeholders.
• The campus radio will also be used as a platform to inform the students of the findings of the study.

Contact

If you have questions at any time about the study or the procedures, you may contact the researcher,

Germinah Motshegwa via email on Germinah.Motshegwa@nwu.ac.za.

You can contact the chair of the Human Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Prof Erharbor Idemudia) at 018 389 2899 or Erhabor.Idemudia@nwu.ac.za if you have any concerns or complaints that have not been adequately addressed by the researcher.

ELECTRONIC CONSENT: Please select your choice below. You may print a copy of this consent form for your records. Clicking on the “Agree” box below indicates that:

•                  You have read the above information.

•                  You voluntarily agree to participate.

•                  You are 18 years or older.

•                  You are a student of the North-West University.