CAUSES OF HIV AMONGEST THE YOUTH

According to the World Health Organization, developing countries have highest number of HIV and AIDS infections in the whole world. The worst hit regions include Sub- Sahara Africa, Caribbean, and South- East Asia. Kenya is one of the countries in Africa with the highest prevalence rates, with 40% of all new infections occurring among adolescents aged between 15-24 year.
The major factors that contribute to the spread of HIV/ AIDs in Kenya include the following:
1. PROMISCUITY
This is the leading factor in the spread of HIV/AIDs in the country. Many people have more than one sexual partner with a big number of people in relationships being unfaithful to their partners without regard of any consequences. Promiscuity is being practiced by both young adults and also older married couples, where we find the 'sponsor' phenomenon occurring where wealthier older men have extra marital affairs with young women who want to live the high life that these men offer them.
2. Drug and Alcohol Use.
 Drug and alcohol use has become quite common among the youth. For example, one of the effects of drinking alcohol is the loss of inhibitions and this may lead an individual to make unwise decisions when getting involved in sexual activities such as having intercourse with a stranger without the use of protection.
3. IGNORANCE
Many people are fully aware of HIV/ AIDS but still engage in practices that contribute to the spread of this disease. This ignorance is driving up the rate of transmission. HIV transmission can be prevented by the use of condoms but many people are reluctant to use them even when getting intimate with a new partner.
4. POVERTY
Poor people are forced to do whatever it takes to earn a living, for some this includes engaging is sexual activities. There is an increasing number of cases of young people getting involved in commercial sex in order to make a living. These greatly increase the diseases prevalence rates.
5. HIV/ AIDS STIGMA
People living with the disease are highly stigmatized in this country and thus this leads to a lot of people not getting tested. Most people that get tested and are found to have the virus hide their status and end up not taking ARVs or hide them from others. These people who are still unaware of their status continue to engage in high- risk behaviors thus the disease continues to spread. According to experts, people who are infected with HIV and are not using ARVs are spreading the disease more as compared to those that are using them.
6. SEXUAL DEBUT AT AN EARLY AGE
We are finding that younger children are experimenting with sex, with children at the age the tender age of 9 or 10 years already sexually active. This is happening and yet these children don't get any sex education to prepare them for what they are already doing.
 CONCLUSUION
The rate of infection can be reduced if it's acknowledged that adolescents are being exposed to sex and if young people are able to access comprehensive sexuality education before they are sexually active. This is most likely going to enable them make more informed decisions about their sexuality and their relationships. It's important to engage the parents and caregivers, schools and the youth themselves to help in designing HIV- related services and programmes.

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