AIDS Care Watch

Monday, April 16, 2007

HIV infections among under-24 youths on rise - report

By, Austin Beyadi, Guardian, April 14, 2007

The World Development Report 2007, just been launched at the national level in Dar es Salaam, shows that there is increased HIV/Aids prevalence among Tanzanian youths aged under 24.

The report covers development progress in the world generally and where necessary highlights specific issues.

This year�s report has revealed the proportion of 15-24 year old youths infected with HIV in the country to be high with girls between the specified ages taking the lead.

The report cites Zambia as leading among eight countries highlighted followed by Kenya, Cameroon with Tanzania coming fourth.

The Dominican Republic is the least country with a small number of women infected with the virus, while Ghana has been reported to have the smallest number of men infected by the virus.

According to the report, experience with health education, particularly in the context of HIV prevention has shown that knowledge alone does not lead to behaviourial change.

Instead it recommends on providing culturally appropriate knowledge about health risks and on increasing the capability of young people to practise healthy behavior.

The practice likely to change behaviour and reduce infections, the report suggests, should include negotiating safe sex with partners. Such practices are more likely to change behavior and reduce infections.

There is a strong relationship between education and health on one hand, and healthy decisions promoted by education and economic growth, which raises the prospect of higher lifetime earnings and a better life in the future, observes the report.

It further notes that education, often called a ``social vaccine,`` is considered by many to protect young people from engaging in risky behaviors leading to reduced new infections.

The countries highlighted in the report include Zambia, Kenya, Cameroon, Tanzania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana and the Dominican Republic.


Source: http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/04/14/88387.html

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