Sociocultural contexts of adolescent sexual behavior in rural Hanover, Jamaica.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate sexual behavior of adolescents in rural Hanover, Jamaica, and to elucidate the cultural contexts of this behavior.


METHODS
Focus group discussion (FGD) sessions with 73 out-of-school young adolescents aged 15 to 18 years, recruited from health centers, as well as community-based organizations through the Social Development Commission (SDC) in Hanover, a local youth and community development organization, within the Ministry of Local Government, Youth and Community Development. The discussions focused on the adolescents' knowledge of sex and sexual risks, perceived vulnerability to sexual risks, use of protection, self-efficacy, and societal expectations. Data were analyzed, using the content analysis technique.


RESULTS
Analyses of transcripts revealed the existence of different sexual scripts for males and females. Whereas females are culturally restrained, abstinence is less desirable for males. Both male and female adolescents expressed the view that the family was an important part of an adolescent's life, and has a strong influence on adolescent sexual behavior. Perception of vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, and knowledge of sexual risks among the adolescents was low, and often erroneous.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that sexual attitudes and behavior of adolescents in the study setting are shaped by cultural and gender norms that impose different standards on males and females.
Smith
Damon
D
Department of Epidemiology & International Health, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1665 University Boulevard, Ryals Building 217, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022, USA.
Roofe
Michele
M
Ehiri
John
J
Campbell-Forrester
Sheila
S
Jolly
Curtis
C
Jolly
Pauline
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D003142:Communication; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005783:Gender Identity; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D010379:Peer Group; D012746:Sexual Abstinence; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology