AIDS Community Worries About Growing Infection Rate Among Young People
Now that we are more than a month past World AIDS Day, issues around HIV and AIDS seems to have slip out of our consciousness. But for one group, particularly in urban areas like NYC and D.C., AIDS is a constant reminder of how vulnerable we all can be. The recent article, “With World AIDS Day Brings Renewed Focus on Youth”, describes the increasing fear over the growing rate of infection among the youth. In many communities of color, poor and working class teenagers and young adults have the highest infection rates in the country. As reported by the NYC Dept of Health, in 2003, 48% of all NYC public high school students reported having sex, and 17% of public high school students have had sex with 4 or more partners. According to the article, “People ages 15-24 account for about 45% of all new HIV infections, with an estimated 5.5 million young people living with HIV globally. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 46,000 people ages 13-24 were living with HIV in the U.S in 2006. Among African-American youth the infection rates are even bleaker. Young African-American adults are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 60% of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 13-to 24-year-olds in 2006.” That is an alarmingly high percentage and should have parents, every youth organization, educational institution and church group ringing the alarms. We claim to be a society that cherishes and even worships our young but when it comes to sex education, awareness and HIV. We leave them to figure it out on their own.
How difficult is it to understand that we have no future as a community, if the majority of our youth are becoming infected with this extremely preventable disease. And despite the continued advances with HIV meds, the longer a person is infected the greater strain the disease puts on one’s body. If it’s not the virus itself that cause’s one’s demise, then it’s the illnesses that develop as a result of a weakened immune system. Assuming, one is taking their medication. As noted in the article, “Some studies have reported that young people with HIV/AIDS often fail to regularly adhere to their medication regiment. Young HIV/AIDS patients also sometimes engage in risky behavior, posing serious health risks for them and for transmitting the virus to others. Young people have a lot of information on the internet and other places,” Clemons says. “It’s a part of adolescent to feel invulnerable and that nothing can happen to me.”
And unless, there is a cure, there is no miracle drug that lessens the end result. Therefore, it’s crucial to educate and protect our youth. It is vital that they understand that AIDS is a preventable disease. Abstinence is certainly a good choice for most youth to practice but for those who choose to have sex, they should be able to learn about the pleasures as well as the risks so they can make healthy choices with their partners. And condom use is an important part of that discussion. Youth must learn and appreciate how crucial condoms are in practicing safe sex. And if there is NO glove, then there’s NO love. Ok, so that was a little corny but you get the point.
Which brings me to my next point, how the message is told. Don’t create AIDS awareness campaigns for 30 and 40 year olds and think teens and young adults will relate to it. The message must be culturally and ethnically sensitive as well as age appropriate. What works for young African Americans may not work for other youth of color. Black people don’t all come from the same experience and cultural background any more than Latinos or Asians do.
Peer to peer training and education is probably the most crucial and well proven method of preventing the spread of HIV. Avert.org has a web page entitled, Introduction to HIV and AIDS education, which explains “HIV and AIDS education can take place in many different environments, from classes at school to families and friends sharing knowledge at home. It is important that this education is provided in a variety of settings to ensure that the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in society are reached, and that accurate information about HIV and AIDS is reinforced from different sources.” In New York City, there is Teatro El Puente, the first and longest running HIV/AIDS educational theater group. The company was the first educational AIDS theater company for adolescents in New York City. Teatro’s actors (ages 16-21) are all bilingual (Spanish and English). Other peer to peer AIDS education groups exist throughout the United States and around the world. UNICEF has produced a video highlighting their peer to peer AIDS education program. These programs work and are successful despite being underfunded or de-funded as many programs have in New York City.
Other methods that have been successful is the use of dance, music and video. Check out the Regret Free public service announcements (PSAs) These PSAs were created to celebrate people who live a regret free life when it comes to their sexual lifestyle choices. LIFEBeat, uses music as a tool to educate and inform. . LIFEbeat is dedicated to reaching America’s youth with the message of HIV/AIDS prevention. LIFEbeat mobilizes the talents and resources of the music industry to raise awareness and to provide support to the AIDS community.
There are several different ways to get the education but the most important thing is to get the education. HIV and AIDS education needs to motivate people by making them aware that what they are learning is relevant to their lives. Empowerment is also crucial, as people must be in a position where they are able to take control of their sexual behavior or methods of drug use. Given the huge numbers of deaths that might still be prevented, the importance of effective education cannot be overestimated. We must make a way to save our youth, now!
