Zimbabwe is one of the countries in Southern Africa worst affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOHCW) (2007) estimated that 1. 3 million people were living with HIV and AIDS at the end of 2007. The aim of this study is to explore the challenges that adolescent mothers face and why young women engage in risky sexual behaviour, despite the levels of awareness and prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in the country. The study was conducted in Gutu District, Masvingo Province, among women aged between 15-24 years who had never given birth or were pregnant with their first child.