THE accessibility and availability of social media apps is helping drive the risky behavior of today’s youth, resulting to higher vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the Department of Health has said.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said access to various social media apps is a big factor in encouraging risky behavior among adolescents.
“We have observed that among the young individuals, who are practicing unsafe sex, they already have social media applications, where they can meet and chat. These apps are what they use so that they can meet each other and engage in illicit behaviors,” Vergeire said.
The DOH has reported 79 new HIV cases among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old in its January 2023 HIV/AIDS Registry of the Philippines (HARP) report. The virus was transmitted through sexual contact in all but one of the cases.
Breaking down the 78 HIV acquired by adolescents through sexual contact, 65 were male-to-male sex, eight through sex with both males and females, and five through male-to-female sex.
Vergeire stressed that engaging in risky and illicit behaviors may result to acquiring HIV.
“The most common cause of HIV around the world is unsafe sex,” she explained.
Another possible factor in having high number of HIV cases among adolescents, according to the health official, is influence from other people.
“It could also be peer pressure, especially among adolescents,” said Vergeire.
Lastly, the health official also believes that many of the younger generation continue to lack awareness on HIV.
“We need to make them aware of the diseases that can be acquired when we engage in unsafe behavior,” said Vergeire.
The DOH appealed to parents and to the general public to help educate the youth regarding safe sex and HIV.
“Everyone is encouraged to spread awareness on HIV so that they will know how to protect themselves,” said Vergeire.
