Teens in the United States face a continued risk of HIV exposure and AIDS, in large part because half of all new HIV infections in the U.S. occur in people younger than 25, according to the KidsHealth website. Understanding the statistics as well as the risk factors can help teens and their loved ones better understand the challenges faced, while coming up with effective prevention strategies.
Breaking Down the Stats
Breaking down the Stats of teens and AIDS reveals a complex picture in which ethnicity, gender and age, all play a role in HIV infection risks and rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, over half of those between the ages of 13 and 24 infected with HIV are African American. Teenage girls that are part of an ethnic minority, and male teen minorities who engage in homosexual activities, represent the largest HIV risk groups. On the whole, more male teens become HIV positive than females, according to the CDC, and between 2001 and 2004, 62 percent of those who reported their results were male, while only 38 percent were female.
Sexual Activity and Transmission
Any sort of unprotected sex, whether anal, vaginal or oral, carries with it the risk for HIV infection. The Aids Charity Organization AVERT urges teens to use condoms during sexual intercourse of any kind, and to understand the risks involved in all sorts of unprotected sex.
Unprotected sex increases the risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases or STD. According to the CDC, teens have the highest STD rates in the country, and the presence of an STD greatly increases the likelihood of transmitting HIV.
Substance Abuse and Needle Sharing
According to the KidsHealth website, one third of HIV cases result because of substance abuse and subsequent needle sharing. Teens under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol become more likely to engage in sexual risks than those who remain sober, which can lead to unprotected sex and possibly the sharing of contaminated needles.
Lack of Concern
A large proportion of young people don't feel concerned about HIV infection, according to the CDC website. They lack accurate and age-appropriate information about AIDS and HIV, and don't have strategies for reducing risk factors.
AIDS Prevention
The phrase "it takes a village" certainly applies where HIV and AIDS teen prevention programs are concerned. Parents, peers, church and community must work together to reinforce information from AIDS prevention programs. CDC research has shown that healthy communication between children and their parents beginning at an early age proves important in helping teens delay sex and make responsible choices about sexual behavior. The research also indicates that schools can serve as a conduit for reaching and educating at-risk students before risky behaviors begin.
