Ethiopia is a developing counfly with a demographic profile dominated by a youngpopulation. Due to biological, socia-cultural, economic and gender inequality youngrnpeople, particlliarly those aged 15-24 years, are generally at a high risk 0/ contractingrnSTDs including HIVIAIDS. This study is intended to examine gender differentials in youthrn(0 HIV Burayu o/Oromia State. II cross-sectional, study was cond1lct in both urban and rural areas of the Zone.rnand qualitative data collection methods were used gather thernrequired information/or the study. For quantitative part of the study, a total of 723 youtllrn(367 males and 356/emale youth), in the age group years, living in a randomlyrnof FOllr locus-grouprnoI 1 condllcted andjemalernyouth to supplement the findings in quantitative part. Descriptive statistics and logisticrnwere IIsed to examine the influence oIthe explanatOlY variable on thern1.lsing SPSS soflware 16. The major finding 0/ the study sholl'Srntllat sexual initiation which typically occurs at an early age for both sex. However,rnfemales are more likely to start sex be/ore reaching the exact age and 1t is alsornIound that 17.2/or male andI6.5/ilrfelllale. IIlthollghrnmost YOllths have lIsed cone/olns, its consistent use was remained lUll'. Considemhlerno/the youth in the area exhibited high risk sexlIal behavior including lIIultiplernactivity non 0/ thatrnHIV infect ion. This ilnpliesrnthat HfVIA fDS prevention and other reproductive health programmes need 10 targelrnyoung. /or/siudy AESMeTrnEthiopia is a developing counfly with a demographic profile dominated by a youngrnsocio-particularly j 5-contraclingrnHIVIA IDS. stllc0' YOUlhrnsexual behavior and vulnerability to 1-[lV infection in /Jurayu zone of Oromia RegionalrnA conduct o( tile Both quantitative to Ihernin(ormation/stuc0'. a/the lotal 0(723 youthrnl17ales 15-24 selected urban and rural kebeles 0/ the zone were interviewed. Four focus-groujJrndiscussions, each with a total of.l 0 partiCipants, were conducted with male C/ml/i!lllCllernDescriplive slCltistics regression analysis used fa of the explanatol)l Iherndependent variables using the sofiware j 6. of slud)' showsrnthaI initial ion t)1)ical/y before 15 18. iI .fiJund thai the mean age at sexual debut was 17.2 for //Iale and 16. 5(orji!lnale. II Ithoughrn1170s1 youths used condo illS. consistel1l lise lOll '. Con.l'idemhiernproportion o(lhe youlh exhibiled sexual lIIuiliplernsexual partnership, early sexual activily and inconsistent or n017 use of condoms Ihatrnpredisposed them to Sexually Transmitted Diseases inc/uding in(ection. impliesrnHI II/A lDS 10 largelrnyouths "hen they are velY young, particularly fo r/emales in the study area.