Abstract: The paper used data derived from the 2013 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey, to investigate young people's HIV risk perception and the influence of HIV risk perception and self-efficacy on young people's sexual and reproductive practises. The results show significant association between young people' HIV risk perception; self-efficacy and sexual and reproductive health practices. There is need for HIV prevention programs and associated policies to seek to understand the true dynamics of young people's sexual relationships, including their motivation for engaging in sexual relationships; including the socio-cultural; economic and other structural factors that motivate and often compel young people to engage in risky sexual behaviours, despite having correct perception of risk..
Key words:Gender; HIV/AIDS, Risk Perception; Self Efficacy, Botswana, sub-Saharan Africa.
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