Scientists have warned that teenagers worldwide do not know enough about sexually transmitted infections, especially the life-threatening illness HIV. One in three are unaware that condoms stop STIs from spreading.
As it was revealed that half of the world’s new cases of HIV are amongst the 15-24 age group, health campaigners called for governments, parents and teachers to urgently improve sex education for youngsters.
Despite having the highest rate of AIDS, young Africans were the best informed about HIV, with 73.4 % describing themselves as well informed. However in South-East Asia, 57% of respondents said they felt they knew little about HIV or AIDs.
A spokewoman from AIESEX International and Standard Charterered, who conducted the research, said that myths and orthodoxy were some of the biggest barriers HIV trainers faced when trying to do sex education. She also identified a reluctance to learn basic facts as being a problem.
She added that the results showed that there was a “huge job” to be done in educating the next generation about HIV and AIDS.
The Terence Higgins Trust, a charity working to improve sexual health in the UK, said that their own research had also indicated that young Brits also want better information about sexual health.
According to the Health Protection Agency, some 4,207 teenagers and children have been diagnosed with HIV in the UK, while 10,391 people aged between 20 – 24 have been infected. However true rates of infection are likely to be higher, as not enough people in this age group are getting sexual health checks.