Youth (25 and under) and HIV/AIDS
Young people aged 25 and under have never known a world without HIV/AIDS. Despite that, rates of HIV continue to rise among this vulnerable population.
Today, of the over 60 million people who have been infected with HIV in the
past 20 years, about half became infected between the ages of 15 and
24. Today, nearly 12 million young people are living with HIV/AIDS.
Young women are several times more likely than young men to be infected
with HIV. In nearly 20 African countries 5% or more of women ages 15 to
24 are infected. Such statistics underscore the urgent need to address
HIV/AIDS among youth.
Mitigating the impact of the HIV/AIDS among young people demands
comprehensive strategies that focus on their unique needs and
challenges.
