title: Sexual chance taking: a qualitative study on sexuality among detained youths.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many, although not all, juvenile detainees are known to be sexual risk-takers but little attention has been paid to why they engage in early sexual intercourse, have more partners, often have sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and without protection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand the rationale behind sexual risk-taking among detained adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study of interviews with nine girls and 11 boys, aged 15 to 20 years, at detention centres in southern Sweden.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two major categories surface in the analysis of the interviews: contradictions and vulnerability. A core category, chance outdoes risk that describes the adolescents' pragmatic view on sexual risk-taking as being a chance of something good rather than a risk of something bad, captures the connection between these categories and the individual.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among our interviewees, sexual chance taking appears rewarding. Recognising this rationality is valuable for all professionals promoting sexual health within similar groups of youths.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Society, University of Malmö , Malmö , Sweden.
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindroth
authors.forename: Lotta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Löfgren-Mårtenson
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000523:psychology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007604:Juvenile Delinquency; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult