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This report presents findings from a qualitative study into young women’s sexual relationships in inner-city Kingston, Jamaica. The study explores the social and economic environment in which young women’s relationships take place. It identifies opportunities and barriers to behaviour change and insight into condom use, HIV risk perceptions, and types of sexual relationships.

The following areas are considered:

• implications for programmes: managing risks and getting the message through to young women. Also the problems with access to condoms and considers ways in which to reinforce beliefs
• literature review of young women and sexual relationships in Jamaica
• the issue of multiple partners is considered including risk management, emotional support and commercial sex work
• HIV and AIDS are also highlighted, the authors focus specifically on HIV testing, risk perception, condoms, and issues of stigma

The authors highlight the importance of friendships and the peer group, and the negative consequences of what happened when these broke down, this suggests that peers  and friends are very important salient referents to these young women.  The document explains how stories featuring women who broke away from peer pressure in staying at  school or not getting pregnant were presented as remarkable, suggesting that  women feel very strong pressures to fit in with their peer group.

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