Gendered construction of sexual risks: implications for safer sex among young people in Kenya and Sweden

This study compared perceptions of sexual risk and sexual practices among y outh in Kenya and Sweden. Self-generated questions on the body, perceptions of sexual risk and sexual practices were collected in Kenya while focus gr oup discussions and individual interviews on these same issues were used in Sweden. The most striking differences between the two countries were in th e level of knowledge on matters of sexuality and the ability to talk with e ase on these matters. The refusal in Kenya to provide adolescents with info rmation and services hers left the 'safe period' as their only protective o ption and pregnancy as the overriding concern. Communication at the partner level and lack of condom use are problematic in both countries and even wh ere access to information and preventive services exist, these may not be u sed optimally In both countries boys had more sexual freedom, while girls w ere controlled through labelling and rumours, and girls were assigned respo nsibility for safer sex. We conclude that sexual education should be based more broadly on on understanding of the social norms defining sexual behavi our It is at the level of sexual relations that the tensions between cultur ally-defined sexual and gender norms and public health assumptions should b e addressed, a level at which health policy and education are silent in bot h countries.