It may not be the most popular opinion, but the youth of this country is still at risk for HIV and AIDS. While a lot has been done to educate the public on these infectious diseases, the prevention programs used to instruct and inform the youth of this country are still greatly needed as new-age groups become sexually active, along with experimenting with intravenous drug use each year.
Identification
AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is essentially a condition caused by HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, which is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluid from someone infected with the virus. It can be passed in a number of different ways, including sex, the sharing of needles, blood transfusions and even from mother to child during pregnancy. For many of us, it may seem like common knowledge, but to the youth across the country, this isn't always the case.
Significance
Since 1991, AIDS has actually become the sixth-leading cause of death for the youth of this country. That is a fairly high number for a preventable disease. Of all people diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in a single year, 13 percent will be young people. However, a person's age is not the only factor in their risk of infection. A person's race can also play a part in contracting this disease.
Effects
From this 13 percent, 55 percent will be African Americans and 18 percent will be Hispanic, making the risk of infection notably and disproportionately higher for youth of purported minority races and ethnicity. However, these numbers don't mean that a teen is at a greater risk just because he is of a specific minority group. Certain economic and social factors, such as poverty, quality of available educational facilities and access to proper health care, make outreach programs even more important to underprivileged neighborhoods and communities.
Considerations
Yet, it isn't just economic and social factors that play a role in the rate of HIV and AIDS infection in our youth. A teen's gender is also an issue, as a disproportionate amount of males are infected with the disease. Of all young people infected with HIV or AIDS, 62 percent will be males and the other 38 percent are females. A part of this uneven number has to do with male-to-male sex, since male teens that have sex with other men are at a higher risk of HIV infection. This risk is again even greater for youth of minority races and ethnicity, making outreach programs not only important to underprivileged neighborhoods and communities, but also to gay youth.
Prevention/Solution
Currently, the statistics have shown that a fairly larger number of teens are not worried or even bothered by HIV or AIDS. This fact alone should inform us that educational outreach is still very much needed. While it is important to educate our youth on the risk factors and behaviors attributed to infection, they should also understand that nothing is 100 percent effective except abstinence. It is truly the best solution and prevention strategy. Yet, this alone is not the only method that should be taught. An informed youth is a safe youth.
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