Samenvatting

This PhD dissertation shows that young people in Bolgatanga (northern Ghana) do not all remain virgins until marriage, as prescribed by their culture and religion. Among the reasons they cite are ‘having an interest in sex’, ‘being cool’ or, for girls, ‘getting money’. There is a relatively high risk of negative consequences, such as HIV/AIDS or stigma. Knowledge about sexuality is limited, and sex without a condom and with multiple partners is not uncommon. Their problem lies in the contradictory messages they receive about sex from their religion, culture, peers, new media and family members. To protect young people, it is advised to invest in education and media literacy, as well as to promote sexual health and gender equality.