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2. Definitions of key terms
Introduction
What is happening
Implication to HIV/AIDS
What needs to be done!
Conclusion

3.  The World Health Organization defines an
adolescent as any person between the age of 10
and 19.
 Adolescence is a period of physical,
psychological, emotional and social transition in
which the construction of the personality is
completed and the young person attempts to
create their identity through the exploration of
new territories, including the sexual domain.
 Sexuality refers in its broadest sense to the
quality of being sexual.
 Gender is the state of being male or female.

4.  Adolescence represents a delicate phase in the transition
between childhood and adulthood in which young people
develop their personality and construct their identity. It is
during this stage that young people start to examine their
sexual orientation and who they are as people. The topic
of adolescent sexuality opens up a huge debate as to the
recognition of these young people as sexual beings.
 One of the main difficulties that arise during this journey
is the issue of sexuality. Physical changes during puberty
which include breasts for girls, pubic hair, change in voice
for boys, menstruation for girls, all these changes make
the adolescent aware of his/her sexuality and at the same
time attributes the young person with a new social status
which is especially important in the context of
relationships with parents and peers.

5. A global survey shows that 11% of
adolescent boys/girls in developing
countries and 22% of adolescent girls in
Latin America aged between 15 and 19,
have already had their first sexual
experience

6.  Girls and boys have been seen to be willing to
learn about sex education as it has been
witnessed in some schools.
 For communities at large it’s not common for sex
education to be conducted for the adolescents as
a whole however a few families are still using
their parents and relatives (aunt and uncle) to
talk to the adolescents although its still faced
with challenges.
 The risk of infection seems to be higher among
girls of that age group than among boys and this
is due to the fact that girls are more exposed to
rape and sexual violence as compared to boys.

7.  Due to sex education, adolescents have been
exposed to condom use
 Adolescents are made aware of the
consequences of early sex
 Sexual orientation and how to come about it
 Family planning in relationship to HIV as
adolescents have been found to use
contraceptives.
 Adolescents are told of the availability of
HIV/AIDS services and support centers

8.  Introduce sex education to adolescents.
 VCT centers for adolescents should be set up
 Provision of enough sanitary care for the girl
child.
 Use of the media in sensitizing adolescents
 Individual counseling programs should be
offered to adolescents
 Comprehensive community education on
HIV/AIDS Prevention
 Parents and Guardians guidance.

9.  It is therefore my belief and conviction that if
the above is put in place, the rate of HIV/AIDS
among adolescents will significantly go down,
as well as the prevalence of other sexual
related complications including teenage
pregnancies and Fistula. I call upon each one
of us to work tirelessly to establish an Africa
where these conditions are no longer heard
of.