Unsafe Sex Practice

Unsafe sex or unprotected sex describes sexual contact of any form that takes place in the absence of a condom normally used in preventing the risk of sexually transmitted infections and HIV (Chambers, 2010). The World Health Organisation (2004) considers all the consequences that can arise from unsafe sex practice and came up with a broader definition stating that any sexual contact that can lead to unwanted pregnancy, abortion, infertility, unstable mental conditions and cancer arising from certain sexually transmitted infections is also termed unsafe sex. Members of the high risk group that frequently practice unsafe sex and more prone to contracting sexually transmitted infections and HIV include men who have sex with men (MSM or Homosexuals), drug users and adolescents (Chesney, et al., 2003; Stanton, et al., 1996). Women have much more power over the decision of when to have sex, who to have sex with and how the sex occurs which dictates how safe or unsafe the sexual act will be (Rider, 2000). That is why men who by their nature lack this level of control get involved in unsafe sex practice at a rate higher than women (Byrnes, 1999). The use of drugs, smoking of marijuana or drinking of alcohol above the set down limit can impair one’s ability to dictate how safe a sexual act should be (Tapert, et al., 2001). and adolescents have fallen victims to this lack of coordination caused by drugs and alcohol (Fortenberry, 1995). In a study carried out by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (2001), data showed that 1 in every 5 adolescent lose their virginity before the age of 15 and these sexually active adolescents engage in unprotected sex or inconsistent use of condoms (Manlove, 2000). With multiple sexual partners, exposing them to sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia, herpes, HIV, gonorrhoea and HPV (human papilloma virus) that can lead to infertility, sterility and certain cancer (Howell, 2001). Although all these sexually transmitted