Table 2 Vignette and specific questions used to elicit information about condom use decision-making

Vignette

Craig and Ntombi have been friends for a long time. They have decided to take their relationship to the next level. One night at a party Ntombi is offered vodka and beers to drink. She sees all the other friends at the party drinking vodka, and decides to drink the vodka instead of the beer. After having several rounds of vodka she decides to go outside at the party and get some fresh air. When Ntombi gets outside she is offered a smoke – she isn’t exactly sure what it is but takes it and takes a few puffs. Later she realises that it is dagga that she was smoking. As the party goes on – she starts feeling a bit funny. She tells Craig and he decides to take her to his place. His parents are away for the weekend. Later Craig and Ntombi decide to engage in sex. Craig does not want to use a condom but Ntombi insists that he should use one. While the two decide on what to do, they start arguing Craig starts beating Ntombi.

Examples of questions

‘How about Ntombi (a character in the vignette) wanting to use a condom and Craig (another character in the vignette) not? What would you or your friends do in a situation like this?’, ‘What would make you decide to choose that option?’, ‘How would you go about selecting that option?’, ‘What if you chose the other option; what would have played a role in you selecting that?’, and ‘Tell me about the process that you would go through if you were to choose that option?’