Perceptions of HIV/AIDS risk and sexual risk-taking of young people in Ghana

Type Journal Article - Canadian Journal of Development Studies/Revue canadienne d'études du développement
Title Perceptions of HIV/AIDS risk and sexual risk-taking of young people in Ghana
Author(s)
Volume 31
Issue 3-4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2010
Page numbers 439-457
URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02255189.2010.3673729
Abstract
Young people in sub-Saharan Africa are identified as vulnerable to HIV infection; their vulnerability is attributed to risky sexual behaviours, low risk perceptions, and lack of access to HIV information. Very few studies, however, have linked perceptions of HIV/AIDS risks and knowledge about AIDS to sexual behaviours of youth in Ghana. Using the 1998 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, this paper explores whether knowledge and perceptions of HIV/AIDS risk inform the sexual behaviours of never-married youth aged 15 to 24 years. We also assess whether such perceptions vary between females and males. From a policy perspective, understanding this link may be crucial to checking the further spread of HIV/AIDS

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