Back in December 2016, 750 new HIV cases were recorded by the DOH. Sadly, there were 3 women that tested positive for the virus.
29% were aged 15-24
The 750 new cases meant that an average of 24 cases were being reported daily last December. Out of these 750 new cases, 72 developed into full-blown AIDS.
Additionally, around 96% of the cases were males, and more than half belonged to the 23-34 age group, while 29% were aged 15-24 years old.
97.8% were transmitted sexually, and 88% of those cases were males who had intercourse with other males.
Homosexual contact had the highest number, with 408 cases, which was followed by bisexual contact with 241 cases, and heterosexual contact with 85. The remaining 16 persons infected had acquired it via injecting drug use.
HIV in the Philippines
In April 2015, 560 new cases of HIV were reported, which was a 42% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, the infection rate among men who were having sex with other men has multiplied by 10 from 2010 to 2015.
This means that the rate of HIV infection in the Philippines has been steadily increasing. In fact, the DOH reported that the rate of prevalence in the country has surpassed 5%, which is the UN’s definition of a ‘concentrated epidemic’.
This just goes to show how important it is to develop a comprehensive program for reproductive health, and educate people regarding the risks of unprotected sex.
It’s also important for parents to talk to their kids about sex, and to educate them about sexually transmitted disease such as HIV and AIDS.
Talking to kids about sex
Sex education by far is the most effective way of not only preventing sexually transmitted diseases, but it also helps lower the risk of unplanned pregnancies.
It’s very important for parents to be the ones to teach their kids about sex, since discussing sex with their kids directly helps them instill their values in their children. It’s better for kids to learn about sex from their parents rather than learn about sex from their friends, or even the internet.
Here are some tips:
- Make it age-appropriate. For younger children, sex education should be taught in concepts that they understand so that they won’t be overloaded with information.
- Answer questions they ask. If your child has any questions about sex, answer it factually, and don’t use slang terms or euphemisms. Be direct, and give them factual information.
- Instill your values. Sharing your values about sex with your child is very important. That way, your kids can learn about sex with your values intact.
- It’s a constant process. As your child grows older and learns more about the world, they’ll inevitably have more questions about sex in general. Make sure that you’re equipped to answer their questions factually and be honest about it.
Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net, aboutkidshealth.ca
READ: 1-year-old baby in Cagayan Valley becomes youngest HIV positive patient
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