This thesis is a study of the socio-cultural and behavioral aspects of HIV/AIDS amongrnyoung adults (in the age-bracket 20-29) in Kebele 4 Administration of Bahir Dar,rnNorthwestern Ethiopia. The objectives are to: (i) investigate socio-cultural meanings of and conceptions about AIDS among young adults; (ii) study the socio-cultural context of AIDSrnand its impact on sexual activity among young adults, including the gendered aspects ofrnattitudes and behavior regarding sex and HIV risk; and (iii) examine young adults' beliefs,rnknowledge, attitudes, practice and behavior towards PLWHA's, and PLWHAs' experiences inrnthe community and the health care system. The study is based on 100 days of fieldwork,rnwhich included participant observation, interviews and discussions with local officials, and young informants, a focus group discussion, and case studies of 15 young adults (7 males and 8 females), and 3 PLWHA cases (1 female and 2 males).The thesis first describes the daily lives of young adults in Bahir Dar as a basis forrnunderstanding the social context for youth behavior and attitudes. This discussion shows that many youth live in a context of poverty, unemployment, high drug and alcohol abuse, male dominance and female submissiveness, and vulnerability. It is within such a context of vulnerability youth construct their understanding of HIV/AIDS.rnThey generally have an adequate understanding of the nature of HIV and its modes ofrntransmission, but the use of youth narratives reveals youth conceptions of HIV/AIDSrnincorporate a broader set of dimensions including moral, social and behavioral/individualizedrnnotions. For the youth, AIDS is commonly conceived as a symbol of moral failing and a formrnof God's justice. AIDS also represents certain social categories, social problems, genderrninequality, and a mechanism of social control. In addition, AIDS is co-nceived in terms of itsrnsocial function in the society. Alternatively, AIDS is also associated with individualrncharacteristics and outcomes such as self-destructive behavior, a self-inflicted randomrnoccurrence, a romantic/desirable form of death, as well as with sexuality. The thesis alsorngives substantial attention to youth sexuality because it is strongly intertwined with the realityrnof HIV/AIDS in terms of youth conceptions, mode of transmission, and changes in sexualityrnin response to the epidemic. Youth sexuality is a function of sexual attitudes, socialrnsignificance of sex, risk perception and risk-prone behavioral and social contexts.People living with HIV/AIDS are an important aspect of the significance ofrnHIV/AIDS in the lives of the youth. The thesis therefore discusses the psychological and social status ofrnPLWHA's, the care and treatment available to them, and their self-help efforts. PLWHAs' reactions to theirrnHIV-positive status ranges from emotional reactions such as shock and confusion, resort to begging, moralrnjudgements about their past behavior, self-blame, and feelings of experiencing retribution, lack of desire torndiscuss one's concerns about AIDS with anyone except concerned people. The social status of PLWHA's isrncharacterized by stigma but also acceptance by some. Institutional care provided to PLWHA's consists ofrnconsiderate treatments by certain medical professionals on the one hand, and social biases by others on the other due to lack of awareness and belittling attitudes on the part of some workers. The family and, especially women,rnare a primary source of care for PLWHA's, but moral judgements on the part of caregivers and attempts torncontrol information flow about PLWHAs' status may affect the level of care provided. Self-help Association of PLWHA's is accessible to PLWHA's, but is weakened by resource shortages