Why are so many young people being infected with HIV?
Uzbekistan’s young population face many challenges Uzbekistan is a ‘young’ country with 36% of the population under the age of 16. These young people face numerous challenges in their lives: • There was a fourfold increase in registered drug users from 1992 to 2002. Heroin is a major problem, due to the easy access as a result of the geographical proximity to Afghanistan. • Rates of HIV/AIDS infection, although still low in numerical terms, are rising at an alarming rate, affecting young people in particular. • Young people have low awareness levels of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted illness (STIs) • There are high and rising rates of tuberculosis (from 58 per 100,000 in 1998 to 92 per 100,000 in 2001 according to the World Health Organization, which in numerical terms is estimated to be 23,345 cases in 2001). • The unemployment rate for 15-24 year-olds is 56% of the total unemployed , the highest rate in CEE/CIS countries (source: UNICEF Social Monitor 2004). Many of these children end up on the streets or engaging in other at-risk activities. • Young people rarely use contraceptives when having sexual relations and although they are aware of HIV/AIDS, they do not know how to protect themselves against it. See the following sections to see how young people are affected and what they can do to protect themselves. Young people are also the most critical resource in addressing these problems. They are powerful communicators – to each other, to their families and to their communities. A new generation of young people are deciding their own future and having their voices heard for the first time.
HIV/AIDS is having a devastating impact upon the world's children
HIV is having an impact in Uzbekistan
Why are so many young people being infected with HIV?
Creating awareness among young people
Young people's voices must be heard
What can a campaign do?
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