HIV infection and AIDS are major public health problems in Zambia and many of the
Zambian population are living under high-risk sexual behaviour. This study was instigated
to examine the reasons responsible for the high levels of unprotected sexual activity among
out of school adolescents. A cross sectional descriptive survey was used to draw 250
respondents among out of school adolescents from Jack and Hellen Kaunda communities in
Lusaka District. The study disclosed that a number of factors are at play for the high levels
of unprotected sexual activity among out of school adolescents in the selected communities.
It was noted that, high levels of negative gender beliefs and attitudes, restrictive cultural
beliefs, impersonal sources of information, ignorance and substance abuse were some of
the common factors contributing to the high levels of unprotected sexual activity among out
of school adolescents. Gender sensitization should be made an integral part of various
sexual and reproductive health programmes being carried out by various organizations.
The information being given to adolescents in communities must seriously address issues of
gender and help young people acquire skills to cope with negative sexual pressure.
Community authorities must accentuate on informal education that will focus on sexual and
gender education through informal community discussions for young people for them to be
able to adopt more positive sexual behaviours. It is also quite cardinal that more complete
and accurate disaggregated data on different experiences and conditions of unprotected sex
and knowledge of important gender issues among out of school adolescents (15-19 years) is
collected if the most vulnerable young people in poorer household and rural areas are to be
reached.