This book draws on an extraordinarily large and representative qualitative study to examine the variety of young people's sexual relationships and practices in a region typical of rural Africa. It describes how contradictory social ideals and expectations led to concealment of premarital and extramarital relationships. It then examines how this secrecy, combined with poor understanding of HIV/AIDS and the common practice of material exchange for sex, contributed to short relationships, fast partner change, concurrent partnerships, and related sexual health risks.