Does Traditional Culture Determine Young Men’s Sexual Behaviour and Attitude? An Empirical Study among Primitive Tribal Groups of India

Purujit Praharaj, Technical Support Group-NACO
Soumya Mohanty, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

The increasing burden of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and the vulnerability of youth and tribal population to it have formed the basis for the present study. This is a part of a larger study carried out for academic purpose among 414 male tribal youth. Early age at marriage, early age at sexual debut, existence of pre-marital and extra-marital relationship with multiple partners are some of the serious concerns among the youth of primitive tribal groups. The youths are exposed to non-traditional world which has changed their viewpoint and making them lesser accountable towards their traditional life-ways. On the other hand, lack of definite social system or diminished social system for imparting sexual knowledge to the youth has been reflected in awareness level on sexual health. Sex with strangers or co-workers was seen from the study, direct bearing on the sexual behaviour and sexual health of the youth at large.