HIV/AIDS cases surge 15% in 3 years among young people in Caribbean

…Guyana, Suriname, Barbados lead in new cases

Policymakers across the Caribbean have been urged to accelerate management and mitigation efforts against the spread of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), as cases continue to rise among the young population.
The call was issued on Wednesday by Public Health Specialist at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), Dr Richard Amenyah, following completion of a comprehensive study on the region’s status.
A release issued on the matter indicated that young people who are 15 to 24 years old accounted for 28 per cent of new HIV infections in 2023, while, in the Caribbean, this age cohort accounted for 27 per cent of the 15,000 new infections. This represents a 15 per cent increase from 2020.
This rising proportion of total HIV incidence among young people ranges from 14 per cent in Suriname and Guyana to 37 per cent in Barbados.
Dr Amenyah highlighted that the figures warrant further investigation and serious attention if the region is to collectively end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Further, he explained that several factors are driving the epidemic among adolescents and youth, noting that HIV prevention and testing among adolescents and young people have been particularly challenging due to factors such as social norms, vulnerability, high-risk sexual behaviours, policy barriers, limited access to healthcare services, and poor care-seeking behaviours.
“The lack of comprehensive knowledge about HIV transmission, prevention, and treatment increases risky sexual behaviour, fuelled by myths and misconceptions about the virus. Many schools lack comprehensive sexuality education, and there are few youth-friendly facilities within or outside health care settings to engage and educate young people about HIV,” the UNAIDS specialist noted.
In a bid to better address the social stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, Dr Amenyah suggested that policymakers devise plans that would reshape adolescents’ understanding on the illness and help them to be well informed about its effects on the body, so that they can desist from engaging in risky behaviours.
He also urged governments to remove all policy and legal bottlenecks, and increase domestic health investments to deliver youth-friendly services to meet the needs of young people.
“The mental health of young people living with HIV must not be overlooked,” he said, adding that many experience feelings of isolation, anxiety about their future, and concerns about living a fulfilling life.
“Unfortunately, mental health services tailored to the needs of HIV-positive youth are often limited. However, advances in medical technology and digital platforms present new opportunities for engaging young people in HIV prevention and treatment. Social media, telemedicine, and mobile health apps have been instrumental in disseminating information and connecting young people with essential services. Access to these services is essential to fostering the health, well-being and dignity for all; hence, removal of these barriers and ensuring the services are youth-friendly should be prioritized. In fact, this must warrant deliberate health policy and strategy to reach young people, wherever they are, with high quality, confidential and non-discriminatory HIV and sexual reproductive health services,” he added.