Section 4 - STI/HIV Prevention and Treatment:
Priority for Young Adults

Addressing the HIV Epidemic Among Youth

There is still hope for the HIV epidemic, fueled by declines in HIV/AIDS in a few countries. Young people are taking fewer risks as well. To preserve their health and their lives, youth must be at the center of any strategy to control HIV/AIDS. A comprehensive approach must be undertaken to address youth and HIV. This involves:

• Building support for AIDS prevention
  Until more leaders speak out about the AIDS crisis among youth and give it top priority for funding and action, there is little hope of a solution.
  
  
• Offering education and communication
  Young people need help to become aware of risks for HIV/AIDS and how to avoid them. Education and communication programs must go beyond merely offering information to fostering risk-avoidance skills as well, such as delay of sexual debut, abstinence and negotiation with sex partners. HIV/AIDS education should begin early, even before children become sexually active.
  
  
• Addressing cultural and social norms
  Many traditions and cultural practices increase risks for young people more than adults and for young women even more than young men. Efforts to involve communities and to change social and gender norms are as crucial as efforts to reduce individual risk-taking.
  
  
• Promoting condoms for dual protection
  Condoms - the only contraceptive method that can protect against HIV as well as against pregnancy - are vital to controlling HIV/AIDS among youth. Condoms should be widely accessible, and
  their use promoted among sexually active people of all ages.
  
  
• Making services youth-friendly
  To serve young people better, health care providers must do more to make young people feel welcome and comfortable. Services, including treatment of STIs and voluntary HIV counseling, testing, and referral, should be provided confidentially and sensitively.
  
  
• Reaching out to vulnerable youth
  Programs need to reach out to street children, sex workers and other vulnerable youth, including millions of young people orphaned by AIDS. Most programs for youth work better when young people help plan and run them. Programs must also find more effective ways to reach parents and other adults who can influence young people's lives.

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