Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / In South Africa there are currently 44.8 million people under the age of 20 years accounting for approximately 44% of the total South African population. Literature has indicated a number of lifestyle behaviors which account for most of the mortality, morbidity and social problems in adolescents. These behaviors include tobacco uses, unhealthy dietary behaviors, physical inactivity, alcohol and other drug use, risky sexual behaviors, and behaviors that result in unintentional and intentional injuries. Adolescent women are profoundly affected by a number of health risks related to their behavior. Many of these also affect their male peers such as smoking, drinking, use of other drugs, and violence, but have a special effect on women because of either higher prevalence or a relationship to other risks. Another set of risky behaviors are those uniquely linked to women's reproductive potential. The health of young people today, and the adults they will become, is critically linked to the health related behaviors they choose to adopt. It is thus vitally important for health professionals to address adolescent health issues with targeted health-related interventions and effective health-promoting programmes. The heightened adverse health effects of many risk behaviors for adolescent women and the unique risks associated with being female point to the need for gender-specific prevention efforts. The purpose of this study was to investigate health risk behaviours among black female high school learners. The study used a mixed method approach, specifically the sequential explanatory strategy. Quantitative data was collected using two self-administered questionnaires assessing six domains of health risk behaviours including cigarette use, alcohol use, drug use, sexual activity, behaviours leading to violence and behaviours related to physical activity.