Abstract
Adolescence is a period of multiple transitions; unfortunately, physical maturation often occurs before cognitive maturity, leading to sexual exploration and risk-taking behavior. However, what once could lead to a shot of penicillin or an unwanted pregnancy, could now result in a chronic disease. In this issue of Journal of Adolescent Health, Pettifor et al compare the reported sexual risk behavior of two large population-based surveys of youth aged 18–24 years in the United States and in South Africa, with cross-sectional HIV prevalences of <1% versus 10%, respectively (20.8% in South African females) [1]. Surprisingly, the South African youth reported later sexual debut, fewer sexual partners, and safer sex than their American counterparts. The only reported behavior that could account for the vast differences in HIV prevalence was the larger age gaps between South African females and their male partners.
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