India ranks third in HIV epidemic in the world with an estimated prevalence of 0.3% ( 2013) i.e. 2.1 million people living with HIV. There is some reason to rejoice as 38% decline in AIDS-related deaths was observed between 2005 and 2013. Over 35% of all reported AIDS cases in India occur among age group of 15–24 years indicating that adolescents and young adults constitute a major group at risk of the infection.
Adolescence is a transition from childhood to adulthood and marks a very crucial phase in life cycle (occurring between 13-19 years). During this phase, there are several physical changes such as accelerated growth as well as psychological and behavioral changes.
- One important growth marker is sexual maturity that often changes the adolescent’s social interaction, expectations and perceptions. It’s the time of increased sense of self-awareness making them more vulnerable .
- Also , sexual debut, sexual coercion and violence, trafficking, and substance abuse are highlights of this phase
- Lack of knowledge about HIV/AIDS, inaccessibility to healthcare services and commodities, lack of education and life skills, and early marriage increase the vulnerability of adolescents to HIV/AIDS
Adolescents constitute a considerable proportion of India’s population (22%) and increased knowledge about mode of transmission of the disease and its profuse health implications can pave the way for prevention.
“Adolescent HIV/AIDS is an epidemic with difference and its control needs to be adolescent specific.”
Reference:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3140141/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/art/2012/576149/
http://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/asia-pac
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