Factors that shape young people's sexual behaviour: a systematic review

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Introduction

With nearly half of new HIV infections worldwide occurring in young people aged 15–24 years,1
changing sexual behaviour in this group will be crucial in tackling the
growing pandemic. Campaigns targeting young people have encouraged
safer sex, either through condom use or avoiding penetration.
Prevention efforts have often involved giving out condoms free of
charge and providing information through school talks and leaflets.

Yet
even where condoms have been freely available and awareness of sexual
disease high, such campaigns have often had disappointing results.
Qualitative research is starting to show that strong social and
cultural forces shape sexual behaviour and is helping to explain why
providing information and condoms—while important—are often not enough
to change this behaviour. In particular, such work helps us understand
why some HIV prevention programmes have been ineffective and how they
might be improved.

Summary

Background

Since
nearly half of new HIV infections worldwide occur among young people
aged 15–24 years, changing sexual behaviour in this group will be
crucial in tackling the pandemic. Qualitative research is starting to
reveal how social and cultural forces shape young people's sexual
behaviour and can help explain why information campaigns and condom
distribution programmes alone are often not enough to change it. We
undertook a systematic review to identify key themes emerging from such
research, to help inform policymakers developing sexual health
programmes, and guide future research.