Nebulous margins: Sexuality and social constructions of risks in rural areas of Central Mexico

This paper reports on research conducted among young people in two rural communities in the state of Morelos, Central Mexico. Methods used included participant observation, indepth interviews and focus groups. Findings suggest that a person's constitution or 'nature', their gender and perceived risks during agricultural work were strongly associated with riskrelated sexual behaviour. Those who perceive themselves as having a strong constitution see themselves at low risk of acquiring STIs/AIDS. Young people reported receiving little information about reproductive matters at school, including condom use. When information was provided, it was often in a form disassociated from its cultural context. Efforts to control female sexuality between puberty and marriage were particularly marked in the communities studied and may interfere with risk reduction among both young women and young men. Policy recommendations for the future development of sexual education in rural areas in Mexico are outlined.