Jaevion Nelson | High rates of HIV among the youth – A call to action

We are in a bit of a crisis. Young people are having sex, are putting themselves at risk and contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Last year, there were 618 new cases of HIV and 16 per cent of them were among young people 15-24 years, while populations most at risk such as sex workers and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for only one per cent and eight per cent of new infections, respectively.

The data should jolt all of us into action. It should cause much disquiet and prod a national conversation about what is being done to equip adolescents and youth with the information, tools and commodities they desperately need to safeguard and protect their sexual and reproductive health.

I am not particularly surprised about the data. The writing has been on the wall for quite some time, and those with the responsibility and resources to take action hardly seemed concerned. In 2018, there were 1,165 new cases and 16 per cent of them were among young people 15-24 years.

In 2017, over 1000 young people 15-24 years old were surveyed as part of the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Behaviour Survey that, among this age group, correct knowledge of HIV transmission declined from 38.5 per cent to 32.5 per cent. The data show, as well, that condom use at last sex among young people 15-19 years, who have multiple partners, only 54.4 per cent of them used a condom, and among those who are 20-24 years, only 42.4 per cent of them did within the last twelve months (at the time of the survey). In addition, four in 10 persons in multiple relationships correctly assessed their risk and used a condom. 31.5 per cent of them did not seem to be cognisant of the need to use a condom but used one occasionally. The report also shows that 7.4 per cent of them put themselves at risk by claiming their partners are clean so they trust them. Note that this is an increase from less than three per cent in 2012.

UNWILLINGNESS TO IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES

I will ask again, as I did in this paper in March 2016, ‘Why are we so resigned in our unwillingness to implement initiatives that will address the challenges [adolescents and youth] face to enable them to safeguard and protect their health and well-being?’

At the World AIDS Day Breakfast Forum, on December 1, hosted by Jamaican Network of Seropositives (JN+), Kandasi Levermore, executive director at Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, shocked many people. She highlighted that a significant number of the new cases of HIV found by her organisation were among young people.

The truth is, if you fail to provide relevant, accurate and age-appropriate information to adolescents and youth about sexual and reproductive health and rights, you will have a lot of work to do when they get older. By 18 years, all sorts of myths formed and inaccurate information accepted as truth and it became an even more difficult issue to deal with. Lots of unlearning to do.

We need to look (again and more closely) what is being done with children and youth with respect to HIV. Given the circumstances, I am forced to repeat an aged call to action I made. ‘We cannot continue to act as if there is no need for concern and urgency[…] The time for action is now. We have been vacillating for far too long about taking a meaningful approach to address the challenges faced by our young people, especially those who are sexually active. We need to demonstrate our commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of our adolescents and youth.’

I am aware that the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has done a good job in revising the sexuality education curriculum and have employed personnel to dedicate time to imparting these lessons. Notwithstanding, there is a lot more that needs to be done urgently. We need to, among other things:

1. Build more Teen Hubs across the island to provide safe spaces for adolescents and youth to get information and support needed to safeguard their health and well-being.

2. Implement more sexuality education needed in communities and other spaces where young people frequent.

3. Develop and tailor awareness-raising campaigns promoting use of condoms, HIV testing and treatment among young people.

4. Fast-track recommendations to improve laws and policies that would help to enable greater access for young people.

We do not have the luxury of time. We need to roll up our sleeves and take action now. Let’s stop pussyfooting; our young people are depending on us to do good for them.

Jaevion Nelson is a human-rights, economic and social justice and inclusive development advocate. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and jaevion@gmail.com or follow him on twitter @jaevionn.