The negotiation of sexual relationships among school pupils in south-western Uganda

The objective of the study was to explore how school-going adolescents in s outh-western Uganda negotiate sexual relationships. Qualitative data were o btained from 15 boys and 15 girls (14-18 years old), during a series of rol e plays, focus group discussions and one-to-one interviews. A questionnaire was administered to 80 pupils (12-20 years old) from the same school. Most of the pupils were sexually active. Sexual relationships between boys and girls were mediated by peers. Boys initiated relationships. Exchange played an important role in the negotiation of sexual relationships. Money or gif ts were given and received in exchange for sexual favours and to strengthen the relationship. To maximize gains, some adolescents had sexual relations hips with adults. Sexual relationships were characterized by ambiguity. Lov e is intertwined with sexual desire, money and prestige. Girls have to be e xplicit enough to get a good deal; if they are too explicit they will be st igmatized as 'loose' but if they are not interested in money they may be su spected of wanting to spread HIV. Boys try to persuade girls that they have money, but do not want to emphasize this too much. In sexual negotiations a boy must persuade a girl that although he is modern and sophisticated (i. e. experienced) he does not chase after every girl; the girl does not want to come over as an unsophisticated virgin, bur does not want to give the im pression that she is loose either. There is a tension between the tradition al ideal of female chastity and submissiveness and the modern image of sexu al freedom. Multiple partnerships were highly valued as a sign of sophistic ation. Condoms were not considered important. Interventions aimed at reduci ng the spread of HIV do not seem to be having an effect on the behaviour of this group of adolescents. On the contrary, risky attitudes and behaviour are part of an adolescent ideal of modernity and sophistication. New approa ches are needed to persuade this group of the need for change. Shifting the source of interventions from adults to the adolescents themselves, encoura ging girls to try other means of earning money and debunking the idea that having many partners is sophisticated may be productive alternatives.