Oral communication: a gateway to understanding adolescents' sexual risk behaviour

Sub-Saharan Africa is predominantly an oral society. Oral communication tools such as songs, proverbs and metaphorical sayings are used to inform and educate people. These communication tools are not usually seen as methods for data collection, more especially in HIV and AIDS research. Oral communication tools are important in the context of Botswana because they produce a descriptive and analytical basis for understanding adolescents' behaviour and sexual worldview. To develop culturally and developmentally appropriate interventions to dissuade adolescents from engaging in sexual risk behaviour, metaphorical language, proverbs and songs were used to solicit data. The paper highlights sexual risk behaviours among adolescents who emanated from using the above methods. Lastly, the importance of mainstreaming culture in the research process to ensure representation of the voices of adolescents and parents in managing HIV and AIDS is emphasised.