Youth and Playing Sex

• In some schools 50% or more of STD 6 and 7 pupils have played sex.
• Young people are pushed to play sex by: body urges, curiosity, peers, and watching others play sex. Girls often play sex for gifts or money. Boys often play sex to prove their manhood.
• Young people report that at times boys physically force girls to play sex.
• This does not mean that all young people are playing sex all the time.
• This does mean that many STD 6 and 7 pupils are at risk for pregnancy, STIs and HIV/AIDS.

• Young people know that HIV/AIDS exists, kills and is a major problem.
• Young people feel abstinence is the best way to be free from HIV/AIDS.
• Young people expect that many of them will not abstain until marriage.
• Young people want to know how to use condoms in order to protect from HIV/AIDS once they become sexually active.
• Young people hear many contradictory messages about abstinence
• You should abstain
• Playing sex is natural
• You should play sex to get gifts, to preserve your virility or fertility
• Young people also hear contradictory messages about condoms
• Condoms protect
• Condoms have holes, burst, and cause AIDS

• Adults don't know how to talk about both abstinence and condoms
• Young people want to be taught
• how to resist being pushed to play sex
• how to properly use condoms.

• Health workers are trusted by both youth and adults.
• Youth and adults alike want health workers to give them correct information about HIV/AIDS and condoms.