Youth at universities remain a high-risk group for sexual and reproductive health challenges, particularly HIV/AIDS. According to recent press reports, Harare alone records an HIV prevalence of 8.4% among young people, with 2,644 new infections annually—half occurring among the youth. These figures underline the urgent need for targeted awareness and prevention strategies addressing risky sexual behaviour, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Risk among university students is driven by multiple, overlapping factors: newfound independence, peer pressure, gender power imbalances, substance abuse, low risk perception and economic vulnerability, all of which can limit uptake of preventive measures. Despite gains in awareness and treatment, students remain exposed, requiring coordinated, holistic interventions.
The transition to university—often a first experience away from home—brings both freedom and pressure. Social expectations and peer influence can encourage behaviours such as unprotected sex and multiple partners, accelerating the spread of STIs, including HIV. While abstinence remains the most effective prevention method, sexually active students must be supported with consistent condom use, easy access to testing and treatment services, and preventive tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The introduction of Cabotegravir has further strengthened prevention by offering a long-acting alternative to daily oral medication.
Substance abuse compounds these risks. Alcohol, cannabis, crystal meth, shisha and e-cigarettes are commonly used in social settings, impairing judgement and increasing the likelihood of unsafe sex and multiple partnerships. Addressing this requires not only awareness campaigns but also accessible, youth-friendly counselling and rehabilitation services.
Gender dynamics remain a critical barrier. Some young women are unable to negotiate safe sex, particularly in financially dependent relationships or transactional and intergenerational partnerships. Sexual violence further heightens vulnerability to HIV infection. At the same time, limited male involvement in family planning shifts responsibility disproportionately onto women. Universities must promote shared responsibility by expanding access to contraception, supporting male engagement and reducing outcomes such as unsafe abortions, school dropouts and unsupported young motherhood.
A persistent gap is risk perception. Many students underestimate their vulnerability, focusing on pregnancy prevention while neglecting STIs. Peer pressure, substance use and, in some cases, deliberate HIV transmission exacerbate the problem. Peer-led interventions offer a practical solution: trained peer educators can deliver accurate information, run campus-based service points and reduce stigma by making services more accessible and confidential. Digital platforms and telehealth services can further extend reach, especially for students seeking privacy or facing time constraints.
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Economic empowerment is another critical lever. Programmes that build financial independence—through income-generating projects—can reduce reliance on transactional sex. Complementary initiatives should strengthen communication, negotiation and mental health resilience through counselling, stress management and leadership training.
Ultimately, universities must institutionalise comprehensive prevention frameworks. This includes accessible HIV/STI testing and treatment, PrEP and PEP services, family planning, substance abuse support, peer-led programmes, youth-friendly clinics and male-involvement initiatives. Health education campaigns should move beyond clinical messaging to address relationship dynamics, sexual violence and personal empowerment.
Students, in turn, must normalise knowing their HIV status—and that of their partners—while practising consistent condom use. A coordinated, multi-layered response is essential to curb HIV transmission and secure the sexual and reproductive health of Zimbabwe’s university population.