Background --Young people have special sexual and reproductive health needs. Because ofrntheir low use of reproductive health service and their relatively high risk of being exposed torninaccurate or incomplete information, they are affected by HIV and other Sexually Transmittedrninfections (STIs) and experiencing unintended pregnancy.rnObjective--to assess HIV and unintended pregnancy risk perception and contraceptive usernamong youth in Debrebrhan District, Amhara Region.rnMethodology--a community based cross-sectional survey of 400 youths aged 15-24 years and 4rnFGDs composed of two men and two women groups conducted in Debrebrhan District , in therneastern part of the country, from February 2010 to March 2010. Two-stage cluster samplingrntechnique was employed, out of nine kebeles in the district; five kebeles were selected by simplernrandom sampling. Respondents from each household were selected using a systematic samplingrntechnique. Data analysis for the quantitative part was analyzed using EPI info version 6 andrnSPSS version 11 for windows and the qualitative part was manually summarized.rnResult--About 45% of the respondents were sexually active. The mean age at first sexualrnintercourse was 19.9+ 2.9years. Among the sexually active respondents 36.5% had ever usedrncontraceptives and 35.9% use contraceptives consistently. The leading determinants ofrncontraceptive use were to prevent unwanted pregnancy and HIV (accounting 35.3%) followed byrnlimit births. Risk perception to HIV and unintended pregnancy was 9.8% and 18.2%rnrespectively.rnRisk perception to HIV was associated with age of first partner consistent condom use and khatrnchewing Risk perception to pregnancy was associated with consistent contraceptive usernConclusion--despite the high knowledge the youths have on HIV and unintended pregnancy andrncontraception, contraceptive use and risk perception to HIV and unintended pregnancy is stillrnlow. Attitude to wards reproductive health services is the barrier to contraceptive use. Peer-basedrninterventions and negotiate contraceptive use are important for promotion contraceptive use