High-risk sexual behaviour in adolescence

Adolescence comprises the period between ages 10 to 19 of an individual’s life period. It is a transitional phase from puberty to adulthood, characterised by distinct physical, physiological and psychological changes. “High-risk sexual behavior” has multiple definitions. Broadly it includes sexual activity that can expose a person to sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancy, sex with someone who is neither a spouse nor a cohabiting partner, early age of sexual debut, unprotected premarital sex, paid sexual relationships, multiple sexual partners, and being in a sexual relationship(s) before being mature enough to know what makes a healthy relationship. Physical, and psycho-social harms often accompany high High-risk sexual behavior. As per NFHS-5, 39% of men aged 15-24 who had sexual intercourse in the last 12 months had higher-risk intercourse (defined in the survey as sex with a non-marital, non-cohabitating partner) in the 12 months preceding the survey. sThe same statistic was reported by 2 % of women aged 15-24. Various individual, personal, family-related, and peer-related factors contribute to high-risk sexual behaviors. Enrolment in school, comprehensive sex education, and HIV prevention programs addressing relationship issues, as well as consent and safety from an early age in schools and other settings in which young people congregate, can prevent these behaviors