THE BAINGLADESH OBSERVER ‘OBSERVER MAGAZINE, Adolescent Girls, Be Careful of AIDS! Mohammad KhairwlAlam DOLESCENT gins ae especial ly vulnerable ta HIV infection cause of biological, cultural ‘and economic factors, They are sexu ally mature and active at younger age. In some ofthe poor countries in| ‘work, girls, aged 151019, are inect- ed at rats as much as seven times higher than- boys; in some regions, girls are infected at wvice the rate ‘The disproportionate impact is rela ed to widespread sexual abuse and gender discrimination against girs makingit extremely dificult fo them to protect themselves. Females are also biologically more vilneyable to HIVSTIs transmission because of ‘the immaturity oftheir reproductive tracts and the much higher ates of HIVIAIDS transmission from males tofemales. ‘Adolescent gil who are late devel- ‘opers maybe more vulnerable osex- ually transmitted: infections (STIs) than younger, sexually precocious eens. Sexual maturity, rather than ‘age at first sex, soems to be a criticel factor. Adolescent girls, whose breasts were more developed, more sexually mature (older gynecological age), and who bad Infrequent men- strual cycles were significantly less ely to have eny of the infections. Eaily mature girls, who start their perlods before the age of 11 or 12 have high oestrogen levels and devel. op physically faster than late devel- pers, is susceptive in some region in Brazil, India ete, marriage iself may be a vulnerable factor, and female who believe they are in manogamous lationships might be at risk of infection. In many regions, « double standard exists whereby men are often permitted, if not encouraged, to connect in Sex ouside the regular marriage or telationship while ‘women are emphatically condemned for it Young women in Asia, for exemple, ate being infected in Increasing numiers by thei hus brands, who engage n extamartal! commercial set, yet these. women ihavelitte power ns on cfer sex ffom thet husbands. Further, thet tisk" of HIV. infection seriously Increases when other STis ate pre Sent This tendency i also vibe Darts ofAmetia and Ac, Teiswdey ksi tat ome older sen who are regular cent of sex indus often seeKing young gis or virgin gis, some time they ofter huge meney for this so youre gis arg alo tacked forthe In many ‘MDS-atected countries incuding Thalland, men are secking younger and yourige sex workers nthe hope that they all be HiVenegatve, but folder men ate presumed fo be HIV negative: most in some ofthe worst feted counties in ca This phe- somenon, palin the poorest counties, often goes beyond the Stereotypical man who much older or much sche: ean involve any body whe has more economic power tha adolescent gi ad bas bo Scrupey about eplaing such badly oor gs, Open the practice feeds bnelteumstances of poverty and eco nome dependency and puts adoles- ent gl at danger of Infection ‘tom oder ren ot those who have tad many sexual pai nersandare more ike Wy tobe infected. Ado- lescent gis maybe bound to engage in ex Because they lack lvethood options oto hap thes fale, to feed and pie beter thelr charge, several cases, this amt to Survival sex and occurs wen dluted doles ent gis find no [FRIDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2006 ‘opportunity or economic alterna: Alow level of understandingf the virus in-Bangladesh by the popula tion at large contributes to the tent: fs situation. Education and infor ‘mation on HIV prevention, especially for adolescent boys and gil is often limited and inaccessible. According to recent survey by Rainbow Nari O Shisha. Kallyan Foundation, 80% of ose surveyed believe that adoles: ‘cents need more information about HIVIAIDS. As a result of the laek of accessible and appropriate informa: tion, fear and stigma are common reactions surrounding the virus and infected persons. ‘Adolescents are at risk of HIV/AIDS infection from both injecting drug tise and high-risk sexual activity, Use of illicit drugs is spreading rapialy ‘among adolescents heightening theit vulnerability for HIV transmission. Almost 80% of drug users are under 30, most of who do nat take proper ‘measures to decrease their risk of Infection. i Al ove the world it also rising by antisocial circumstance, such as sex: tual violence, rape, and child abuse although itis happened quit natuzal, ‘but laws filo punish them in maxi. ‘mum time. Cause of previous experl- fence other; time & cost for police ase and child or girs sensitivity, risk bringing shame and stigma, thelt fully think safe would be hidden real fact.