Young people are at particular risk of HIV infection. Worldwide, almost half of the 2.7 million new HIV infections in 2007 occurred among people between 15-24 years of age. (Source: 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic, UNAIDS, 2008) In Canada, youth are also one of the groups with the fastest increasing proportion of new HIV infections.
The vulnerability of young people may be due to a tendency to experiment with sex, sometimes with many different partners, as well as with recreational drugs and alcohol which can impair judgment about practicing safer sex.
Some studies show that many young people mistakenly believe that there is a vaccine or cure for HIV. Young people may rarely see someone their own age visibly sick with AIDS because HIV infection can take years to develop into AIDS. Consequently, many young people do not understand the very real and present risk of HIV/AIDS.
The vulnerability of young people may be due to a tendency to experiment with sex, sometimes with many different partners, as well as with recreational drugs and alcohol which can impair judgment about practicing safer sex.
Some studies show that many young people mistakenly believe that there is a vaccine or cure for HIV. Young people may rarely see someone their own age visibly sick with AIDS because HIV infection can take years to develop into AIDS. Consequently, many young people do not understand the very real and present risk of HIV/AIDS.