Young sexual minorities face increased HIV risk at university
Key Correspondents - "In South Africa, young men who have sex with men are increasingly exploring their sexuality at university, without always understanding the HIV and other health risks they are taking. Yet there are few programmes and awareness campaigns address that focus on young men who have sex with men to address these issues.
(...) Students, in general, are also at an even higher risk of HIV transmission considering they are at a phase of forming interpersonal relationships and taking part in sexual experimentations. In South Africa, a study called "National Student Sexual Health HIV - Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour Survey" across 14 higher education institutions involving sexual minorities, found risky sexual behaviour is increasing the risk of HIV transmission among these population groups. (...) But it is important to understand that not all men who have sex with men identify as gay. The study found that some men who identify as heterosexual engage in unprotected sex with other men, as well as having unprotected sex with female partners." (Photo © Amanda Luyenge)