Young people in developing countries urgently need better HIV prevention programmes. But how have the attitudes and behaviour of young people altered in response to rapidly changing sexual values? What are the particular personal and social contexts within which they act? A report by the UK Institute of Education and La Trobe University, Australia, has examined changes in sexual culture, identity and meaning for young people in seven countries. It found that it is too simplistic to focus only on risk-taking in young people's sexual relations. Sexual cultures and meanings have an important role to play in how young people relate to one another.

Sexual vulnerability to HIV and AIDS is evident in all the countries studied. However, a wide range of cultural and situational factors affect the sexual conduct of young people. This is too easily reduced to individual 'risk-taking' by health professionals. The report also warns against the promotion of any simple programme of abstinence or delayed sexual activity. Young people will all too quickly recognise this as little more than a 'moral agenda' dressed up as health promotion. Instead, young people should be provided with a culturally appropriate 'menu' of risk reduction options, and support in choosing from this.

Researchers interviewed a wide range of young people in Cambodia, Cameroon, Chile, Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Zimbabwe. They found that:

• Young people are often grouped into a single category, but the definition of youth varies dramatically between cultures.
• 'Traditional' sexual values are changing in all countries undergoing economic modernisation. Urbanisation and rural change mean that young people are more likely to engage in sex work, or exchange sex for cash, goods or favours.
• Many young women have difficulty dealing with young men's expectations and understanding of sex acts, sexuality and sexual relations. They also need clearer and less hypocritical guidance on the importance of pre-marital virginity.
• In some countries, there is a new assertiveness amongst women who are demanding their right to sexual pleasure.
• In all countries many young men and some young women are willing to experiment with same-sex activity. However, traditional models of hetero- and homosexuality are often not applicable and their uncritical application may confuse HIV prevention efforts.

Policy recommendations made in the report include:

• redefining the concept of vulnerability and prioritising young people in relation to their 'risk-in-context'
• designing new sex education programmes with education specialists to tackle the common lack of respect and recognition of the sexual reality of young people's lives
• focussing on young women at risk due to economic modernisation, and young men neglected by families and societies in their sexual development
• introducing support programmes for adults who work with young people and families: young people are willing to learn about sex and sexuality but need help to cope with the rapidly changing sexual culture.

Source(s):
'Sex and youth: contextual factors affecting risk for HIV/AIDS. A comparative analysis of multi-site studies in developing countries. Part 1: Young people and risk-taking in sexual relations' by G. Dowsett and P. Aggleton (1999)

Funded by: UNAIDS

id21 Research Highlight: 19 January 2001

Further Information:
Gary Dowsett
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society
Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University
1st floor, 215 Franklin Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Australia

Tel: +61 3 9285 5382
Fax: +61 3 9285 5220
Contact the contributor: g.dowsett@latrobe.edu.au

La Trobe University, Australia

Peter Aggleton
Thomas Coram Research Unit
Institute of Education
University of London
27-28 Woburn Square
London
WC1H 0AA
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7612 6940
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7612 6927
Contact the contributor: p.aggleton@ioe.ac.uk

Institute of Education, University of London, UK

Other related links:
Check the AVSC International website for research and publications related to reproductive health care.

Refer to Family Health International for more research, education and services relating to reproductive health.

Marie Stopes International covers a range of reproductive health resources.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation also has information on reproductive health.