Young girls and risky sexual behaviours

Mr Herve Abiepop who is the livelihood coordinator for women and girls in Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) enlightens us on risky sexual behaviours in girls.

Risky sexual behaviours are activities that increases the probability that a person engaging in sexual activity with another person infected with sexually transmitted infection will be infected, become pregnant, or make a partner pregnant. The behaviour could be unprotected vaginal, oral or anal intercourse. The partner could be a nonexclusive partner, HIV – positive or a person who injects substances or goes to native doctors for herbs to use during sexual intercourse says Mr Herve. 

Mr Herve goes ahead to list the risky sexual behaviours. The behaviours can be barebacking which consist of having sex without a condom. Mouth to mouth genital contact, starting sexual activity at a very young age and having multiple sex partners. Also, other risky sexual behaviours in girls can be having a high-risk partner, someone who has multiple sex partners or infections. To add, anal sex without a condom and proper lubrification. Sex with a partner who has injected drugs and engaging in sex work. Other risky sexual behaviours include unprotected intercourse, multiple sex partners and illicit drug use. The use of alcohol and illicit drugs greatly increases the risk of gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS. Trauma from penile anal sex has been identified as a risky sexual behaviour says Mr Herve.

Risky sexual behaviours in girls can lead to serious consequences both for the girl and the partner. This sometimes include cervical cancer, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. Young girls are advice to refrained from all risky sexual behaviours and concentrate on their education because everything has a time in life says Mr Herve.