Who is more at risk, young men or young women?

Eve for Life

with Rosie Stone

Monday, June 07, 2010

Dear Eve,

Please clear this up. We were having an argument over the fact that young men are very sexually active and they have many partners so I think that they are more at risk for HIV than young women. My friend said that this is not so. Who is correct?

Dear RW,

Your friend is correct. In Jamaica, adolescent girls aged 16 to 19 years old are three times more likely to be infected with HIV than young boys. Some people think that the fact that some young girls are having sex with older men and engaging in transactional sex might help to explain why this is so.

Teens often feel like nothing can hurt them. They think that HIV does not impact the teenage population. They are not alone in their thoughts about HIV. Many people believe that only some groups are at risk for this infection. But HIV does not discriminate -- males and females, young and old, employed and unemployed, students and teachers, affluent and poor -- as long as you are sexually active or were in the past you are at risk if you do not or have not used proper precautions against infection.

Many adolescents have myths and half-truths that are associated with their sexuality. Some think that oral sex is safe sex because there is no worry of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. While the risk of getting infected with HIV is lower than vaginal or anal sex, it is possible to get infected through oral sex. Low risk or not, it is still risky behaviour to engage in oral sex without the proper barriers. Infected body fluids such as semen and vaginal secretions have high concentrations of HIV that can enter the blood stream through the mucous membrane of the mouth.

Oral sex can also spread other sexually transmitted infections. These STIs are very uncomfortable and some you will have to live with your whole life. Herpes, syphilis, genital warts and HIV are horrific for anyone to contract, let alone a teenager. These are preventable, and please remember that there is presently no cure for HIV.

What's the latest with AIDS deaths?

Dear Eve,

Are people still dying from AIDS, or has it slowed down because we now have treatment?

Curious

Dear Curious,

Yes, people are still dying as a result of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), but in significantly lower numbers than before. In data published by the Ministry of Health, the cumulative number of deaths due to AIDS as of 2007 was 6,673. This is 53 per cent of all reported cases. The annual number of AIDS deaths peaked at 692 in 2002 and declined to 320 in 2007. The significant decrease in deaths is attributable to the public access treatment programme made possible by the Global Fund. In other words, people could access free medicines. Since September of the 2004, it is estimated that nearly 100 new cases of AIDS or advanced HIV have been placed on ARV (antiretovirals) treatment each month. Not only have death rates decreased, but with ARV treatment the number of persons with HIV getting severe opportunistic infections has decreased significantly.

You can send your questions or comments relating to HIV or related issues to info@eveforlife.org or write to Eve for Life, C/O Jamaica Observer.

Did you watch American football's Super Bowl on Sunday?
	Yes, but just for the advertisements
	Yes, just for the game itself
	Yes, for both the game and advertisements
	No, I did not watch the Super Bowl.

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

Brazil jet makes forced stop after pilot attack

Who is more at risk, young men or young women?