Youth and HIV David Plummer Commonwealth / UNESCO Professor of Education (HIV) The University of the West Indies St Augustine

Caribbean HIV and AIDS estimates, start 2005 Adult HIV prevalence (15-49) 2.3% (range: 1.5 - 4.1%) HIV+ adults and children (0-49) 440 000 (range: 270,000 - 780,000) HIV+ Women (15-49) 210 000 (range: 120,000 – 380,000) Adults and children newly HIV infected in 2004 53 000 (range: 27,000- 140,000) Adult and child AIDS deaths in 2004 36 000 (range: 24,000-61,000) Caribbean HIV and AIDS estimates, start 2005 Source: AIDS epidemic update 2004

The Caribbean is the second most HIV-affected region in the world per head of population In 1999, 3.38% of pregnant women were found to be HIV+ 73% of infections are in people between 15 to 49 years of age 74% of new infections are in females between 15 to 24 years of age AIDS is now the leading cause of death among young adults

New HIV infections in Trinidad and Tobago Source: Trinidad and Tobago National Surveillance Unit. Annual Reports

Cases of AIDS in Trinidad & Tobago by Sex and Age Group Source: Trinidad and Tobago National Surveillance Unit. Annual Reports

Prevention is Possible Incidence of HIV in Australia 1980 - 1993

Prevention is Possible Incidence of HIV in Thailand 1985 - 2002

Strategies are being constantly and severely undermined by stigma Sticking points Workers are reporting a significant gap between high HIV awareness and low levels of protective behaviour change Strategies are being constantly and severely undermined by stigma Gender is a significant factor: masculinity is a significant problem that has not been adequately addressed There is a pre-occupation with the death toll and a collective lack of vision

The FBO Dilemma Engaging in a tug of war and sending mixed messages can only help the virus The debate has polarized along progressive versus conservative lines and risks loosing sight of people infected and affected Ascendancy of conservative political dogma over a traditional religious commitment to compassion and saving lives There is a risk that the dogma might result in a de facto ‘pro-death’ stance This is the challenge for faith based organizations, which have enormous potential

Abstinence and beyond Schools should be ‘sex free zones’. It is a paradox that the abstinence campaigns cause us to loose sight of this point At last count, less than 1% of school students are involved in abstinence clubs in Trinidad schools The clear and present danger for young people is outside of school All means available should be used to keep our young free of infection Fundamental principles of prohibition versus harm minimisation

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