Every year, millions of children and adolescents experience the consequences of HIV, but young girls pay a heavier price than others, recalls UNICEF. Why does this gap persist and how can we fix it?
- Over the past decade, HIV infection rates among children and adolescents have declined significantly worldwide. However, in 2023, 2.4 million young people were living with the virus, but only 65% of adolescents had access to antiretroviral treatments.
- Girls remain disproportionately affected, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where they represent 9 out of 10 new infections among 15-19 year olds. Inequalities in access to care, stigma and gender-based violence aggravate their vulnerability.
- UNICEF calls for investing in innovative technologies, strengthening sex education and empowering girls. These actions are essential to progress towards an AIDS-free generation.
“Many countries have made remarkable progress in ending AIDS. Yet children and adolescents are not benefiting fully from expanding access to treatment and prevention services.” On the occasion of World AIDS Day, this December 1, theUnicef was keen to emphasize that, despite decisive advances in recent years, adolescents, particularly girls, remain disproportionately affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
HIV: 7 out of 10 adolescent infections concern girls
Over the past decade, HIV infection rates among children and adolescents have declined significantly worldwide. In East and South Africa, for example, new infections among 0-14 year olds and 15-19 year olds have fallen by 72% and 57% respectively since 2010. Yet the statistics still show a worrying picture: in 2023, 2.4 million young people under the age of 19 were living with HIV, and only 65% of adolescents had access to antiretroviral therapy, compared to 77% of adults. “Last year, more than 90,000 children and adolescents died from HIV-related causes, or 250 lives lost every day, including 73% among children under 10 years old”, specifies Unicef.
According to the UN agency, girls continue to be particularly vulnerable. Worldwide, 96,000 girls and 41,000 boys aged 15 to 19 were newly infected with HIV in 2023, meaning that 7 out of 10 new adolescent infections are among girls. In sub-Saharan Africa, they even represent 9 out of 10 new infections. An inequality which raises crucial questions about access to care, education and prevention.
Sex education and prevention among adolescents
Several factors explain why adolescent girls are most affected by HIV:
– Social and economic vulnerabilities: Girls are often victims of early marriage, sexual violence and power imbalances in relationships, which increases their risk of exposure to HIV.
– Less access to means of prevention: Stigma and gender norms limit their access to prevention tools, such as condoms or prophylactic treatments.
– Educational challenges: Sex education remains insufficient in many regions, depriving adolescent girls of essential knowledge to protect themselves.
To reduce these inequalities, UNICEF calls for a series of targeted measures:
– Invest in innovative methods: The development of new screening technologies and treatments adapted to children and adolescents could transform the response to HIV.
– Improve education and prevention: Comprehensive sexuality education and awareness campaigns could reduce stigma and improve access to prevention tools.
– Strengthen the empowerment of girls: Programs aimed at reducing poverty and early marriage would help limit the risks linked to HIV.
