Perceptions and Management of Sexual risks among out-of-school Youths

Through a phenomenological lens, this book explores the perceptions and management of sexual risks among out-of-school youths in Nakonde district of Zambia. The book reveals that although the out-of-school youths are aware of sexual risks, they continue to engage in sexual behaviour practices that expose them to such risks. Further, the book identifies gender inequalities and power imbalances as critical factors in influencing how these youths perceive sexual risks, and hence the choice of sexual behaviour practices. In this book, management of sexual risks through condom use and abstinence are perceived with misgivings and misconceptions by the out-of-school youths. Therefore, the book concludes that sexuality, gender and risk, which are deeply embedded in the cultural and social fields of practices, influence how out-of-school youths perceive and manage sexual risks.