Sexual behaviour and risk perceptions among young men in border towns of Nepal

The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has increased significantly in Nepal in recent years. As of 31 May 2000, there were 1,541 identified HIV-positive cases in the country, of which 69.9 per cent were adolescents and young adults aged between 14 and 29 years (Ministry of Health, 2000). The major transmission route in this country is through heterosexual relations with non-regular sex partners and commercial sex workers (Karki, 1998). In view of the hidden nature of the problem, the actual size of the infected population is likely to be considerably larger.