Youth Put a Dent in AIDS Epidemic
Younger people across the globe, including those who live in Africa and other areas hard hit by AIDS, may be helping to ease the epidemic, a new study shows.
There was a 25% reduction in HIV prevalence among 15 of the 25 countries most affected by AIDS, and this is largely due to behavior changes among younger people.
Specifically, there have been declines in HIV prevalence among youths in the Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The data were reported during a UNAIDS-sponsored telebriefing that serves as a kickoff for the XVIII International Aids Conference in Vienna. UNAIDS is a joint United Nations program aimed at improving access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support.
"There is a glimmer of hope that in countries where HIV/AIDS prevalence is high, young people are taking things in their own hands and watching out for themselves," says Mahesh Mahalingam, a spokesman for UNAIDS. "Young people are changing their behavior by having sex later, using condoms if they have more than one partner, or having fewer partners."
No comments:
Post a Comment