AIDS: Adolescent Vulnerability
-Mohammad Khairul Alam-
-Executive Director-
-Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation-
In many countries the majority of adolescents are sexually experienced by the age of 20 and premarital and consensual sex is common among 15-19 year-olds. Sometimes teenager’s Risky sexual behaviour is also can result in contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Contracting a sexually transmitted infection is a behavioral problem not a pharmaceutical one. It is unprotected sex that leads to a rise in STI’s.
AIDS is basically a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which like some other such diseases can also be spread through blood and blood products, and from an infected woman to her unborn or newborn child. Women and girls are biologically more vulnerable than men to HIV infection and other STDs. Worldwide; the most visible impact of HIV/AIDS is the increase in the deaths of young adults. The peak mortality age for women is in the 25–35 age range and for men in the 35–45 range.
HIV infection is increasing most rapidly among young people. Half of all new infections in the US occur in people younger than 25. Sex before marriage, or sex after marriage without spouse, is still taboo for most people in our society. Most would also prefer their partners to be virgins. Sex has become much more accepted in our society today. The fact that sex has become very common among adolescents today is irrefutable. Most cases of HIV infection in women are the result of sexual contact with infected men; Use of needles tainted with the virus during intravenous drug use is the second most common method of transmission among women.
Similarly, reproductive health or safe sex knowledge must first secure themselves against the onslaught of HIV/AIDS before coming to the assistance of their clientele. It is also bear in mind knowledge is not enough, especially in relation to protection against HIV infection. The literature abounds with data from surveys which show that knowledge about HIV/AIDS does not automatically lead to any desirable change in behaviour. Knowledge must be supplemented by attitudes and values that will lead to appropriate and positive decisions.
A survey by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation of 300 married women in 3 Districts in Bangladesh showed that only one in eight women heard of AIDS and even then with a very weak knowledge of its transmission and prevention. AIDS has the potential to create cruel economic impacts in many countries. The economic effects of AIDS will be felt first by individuals and their families, then ripple outwards to firms and businesses and the macro-economy. It is typically different from most other diseases because it is infected people in the most productive age groups. The effects will vary according to the severity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the structure of the national economies.
Certainly, adolescent girls’ prostitution is booming in Bangladesh. Adolescent girls engage or are forced into prostitution for trafficking or socio-economic reasons. Recent survey in Bangladesh by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation has shown that while provide HIV information with discussions of safe-sex or gender issue may be discouraged for young girls and women because of the ordinary belief that to inform them about sexuality and safe-sex is to encourage sexual activity. Even though that for fear of encouraging sexual activity, mothers deny imperative information about sexual-live, safe sex, reproductive health information from their daughters.
The low social status of women in many poor countries encourages gender discrimination, domestic and sexual violence, coercion and psychological abuse, so that they are less able to negotiate safe sexual practices. They may not have the knowledge or skills to make good decisions and stick to them; they may not have a realistic sense of their own vulnerability and therefore take risks; and they are in a phase of life when they are likely to be starting new relationships. Sexuality educators need to ensure that adolescents have full and accurate information about STIs/STDs and HIV/AIDS and the skills to protect themselves now and in the future.
HIV prevention programs for adolescents must consider the developmental needs and abilities of this age group; it is essential that the adolescents be given full and accurate information and knowledge of transmission and prevention, especially those groups that are most at risk. If we fail to take necessary and timely initiatives comprehensively for ensuring qualitative adolescents reproductive health literacy HIV/AIDS prevalence will be climbing higher into new population rapidly in the vulnerable parts of the world.
Source: Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation, UNAIDS, CARE, UNICEF
-Executive Director-
-Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation-
In many countries the majority of adolescents are sexually experienced by the age of 20 and premarital and consensual sex is common among 15-19 year-olds. Sometimes teenager’s Risky sexual behaviour is also can result in contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Contracting a sexually transmitted infection is a behavioral problem not a pharmaceutical one. It is unprotected sex that leads to a rise in STI’s.
AIDS is basically a sexually transmitted disease (STD), which like some other such diseases can also be spread through blood and blood products, and from an infected woman to her unborn or newborn child. Women and girls are biologically more vulnerable than men to HIV infection and other STDs. Worldwide; the most visible impact of HIV/AIDS is the increase in the deaths of young adults. The peak mortality age for women is in the 25–35 age range and for men in the 35–45 range.
HIV infection is increasing most rapidly among young people. Half of all new infections in the US occur in people younger than 25. Sex before marriage, or sex after marriage without spouse, is still taboo for most people in our society. Most would also prefer their partners to be virgins. Sex has become much more accepted in our society today. The fact that sex has become very common among adolescents today is irrefutable. Most cases of HIV infection in women are the result of sexual contact with infected men; Use of needles tainted with the virus during intravenous drug use is the second most common method of transmission among women.
Adolescents have more opportunities to be misguided due to their friend pressure and involved in danger for having inadequate knowledge as to safe reproductive health education. So we should renovate the scopes where available for the adolescents that they can learn about reproductive health and sexual knowledge through formal or informal approach.
Similarly, reproductive health or safe sex knowledge must first secure themselves against the onslaught of HIV/AIDS before coming to the assistance of their clientele. It is also bear in mind knowledge is not enough, especially in relation to protection against HIV infection. The literature abounds with data from surveys which show that knowledge about HIV/AIDS does not automatically lead to any desirable change in behaviour. Knowledge must be supplemented by attitudes and values that will lead to appropriate and positive decisions.
A survey by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation of 300 married women in 3 Districts in Bangladesh showed that only one in eight women heard of AIDS and even then with a very weak knowledge of its transmission and prevention. AIDS has the potential to create cruel economic impacts in many countries. The economic effects of AIDS will be felt first by individuals and their families, then ripple outwards to firms and businesses and the macro-economy. It is typically different from most other diseases because it is infected people in the most productive age groups. The effects will vary according to the severity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the structure of the national economies.
Certainly, adolescent girls’ prostitution is booming in Bangladesh. Adolescent girls engage or are forced into prostitution for trafficking or socio-economic reasons. Recent survey in Bangladesh by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation has shown that while provide HIV information with discussions of safe-sex or gender issue may be discouraged for young girls and women because of the ordinary belief that to inform them about sexuality and safe-sex is to encourage sexual activity. Even though that for fear of encouraging sexual activity, mothers deny imperative information about sexual-live, safe sex, reproductive health information from their daughters.
The low social status of women in many poor countries encourages gender discrimination, domestic and sexual violence, coercion and psychological abuse, so that they are less able to negotiate safe sexual practices. They may not have the knowledge or skills to make good decisions and stick to them; they may not have a realistic sense of their own vulnerability and therefore take risks; and they are in a phase of life when they are likely to be starting new relationships. Sexuality educators need to ensure that adolescents have full and accurate information about STIs/STDs and HIV/AIDS and the skills to protect themselves now and in the future.
HIV prevention programs for adolescents must consider the developmental needs and abilities of this age group; it is essential that the adolescents be given full and accurate information and knowledge of transmission and prevention, especially those groups that are most at risk. If we fail to take necessary and timely initiatives comprehensively for ensuring qualitative adolescents reproductive health literacy HIV/AIDS prevalence will be climbing higher into new population rapidly in the vulnerable parts of the world.
Source: Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation, UNAIDS, CARE, UNICEF
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