Aims: This is a review of articles on sexual behaviour of school students in sub-Saharan Africa published between 1987 and 1999. The objective was to describe what is known in this regard and identify gaps in knowledge.
Methods: Literature search using electronic databases and a thumb search of relevant journals identified 47 articles reporting sexual behaviours of school-based young persons aged between 14 and 24 years.
Results: The findings indicate a relatively low number of articles when one considers the scope of the problems related to adolescent sexual behaviour in the region; high prevalence rates of sexual intercourse; infrequent use of condoms and other contraceptives; and significant proportions of adolescents who have two or more lifetime sexual partners. More data are needed on the extent to which adolescents engage in non-penetrative sexual behaviour and penetrative sex other than heterosexual vaginal intercourse; characteristics of the sexual partners of adolescents; and proximal psychosocial antecedents of sexual behaviour and consistent risk-reduction behaviours.
Conclusions: Cultural influences on sexual behaviour, the sensitivity of such research in adolescent populations, and the opportunity afforded by school systems for intervention suggest a need for additional exploratory and methodological studies. Placing such information firmly within sociocultural contexts in which young people are raised will better inform effective interventions that both delay the onset of sexual intercourse and encourage use of risk reduction strategies.