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This book focuses on the comparative analysis of sexual health of young people (ages 16-18 years) living in India and UK. This study used quantitative and qualitative methods to gather relevant data from 32 young Indians in the year 2003 and 207 White young Britons from year 2000 to 2003. The study focused on gender, sexual safety and HIV prevention awareness in India and UK and on the central and crucial role of gender relationships in HIV/AIDS education and prevention. It explored the dilemmas and challenges through gender analysis in the context of social roles, and conditions of young men and women in both societies. This current study looked on one aspect of the work previously undertaken by Lewis and Clift (2001) and explored gender differences in the perceptions of casual sexual encounters and the reasons given by young people as to why condoms are not used in the context of casual heterosexual relationships.

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Ritu Mahendru is a Sociologist and Researcher. She holds a PhD. in Sociology from University of Kent and an MSc. in Public Health from Canterbury Christ Church University, U.K. Her areas of expertise and research interests are sexual health, gender, development, race, ethnicity, poverty, child rights, media, youth cultures, feminism and globalisation.

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