HIV/AIDS prevention among young people in East and South-East Asia in the context of reproductive and sexual health.

Abstract

Half of all new HIV infections in East and South-East Asia occur among young people below 25 years of age with the epidemic impacting on more women than men. HIV transmission generally happens through sex and the exchange of needles0; to a lesser extent it is transmitted from an HIV infected mother to her newborn child. While most countries in the region have national HIV prevalence rates of less than 1 per cent vulnerable populations especially youths are much more prone to HIV infection owing to a lack of access to adequate reproductive health services and correct health information as well as poverty and gender discrimination and indulgence in risky behaviour. This article presents the findings of a systematic review of programmes in East and South-East Asian countries aimed at preventing HIV/AIDS infection among young people in the context of their reproductive and sexual health. The objective of the study was to assess whether countries in the subregion are doing enough to stem the tide of the HIV epidemic among young people. After analysing the various programmes the article recommends a number of strategic actions to improve adolescent reproductive health and move forward in the battle against the epidemic.