Approaches to Preventing HIV/AIDS in Youth: A Hope for the Future

Abstract

About 50 per cent of new HIV infections affect young people between the ages of 10 and 24. It is clear that the youth represent an important component of the current trends in the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This paper presents four key approaches that have been successful in achieving effective HIV/AIDS prevention outcomes among the youth: emphasising youth involvement in programmes; focusing on multiple levels of intervention and multiple channels of communication; integrating HIV prevention into broader reproductive health programmes; and developing national advocacy programmes and policies to prevent HIV/AIDS in young people. Examples from various countries are presented to illustrate the application of the four approaches and what their results are when applied in the context of HIV prevention programmes for youth. Consistency in regulations and policies across sectors leads to developing approaches and activities that are compatible and youth-friendly. Establishing a unified national youth health policy can be effective in supporting healthy sexuality and reproduction in youth, particularly related to HIV and STI prevention.