HIV: Addressing the elephant in the room

MANILA, Philippines - Pop culture talks about young people’s fascination with sex so much that nothing else has possibly been more discussed, debated on, and parodied more. It does show, though, that the increasing acceptance of discussing pre-marital sex in public forums has done the world a little bit of good: there has been a global decrease of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmissions in the last few years.

The Philippines, however, stands out as one of nine countries in the world where HIV continues to spread. In the period from January to November 2012, new HIV cases in the country were reported at 3,045. That’s a 46 percent increase from the number of cases detected in the previous year. In fact, the Department of Health (DOH) approximates that 10 new HIV cases were reported every day in 2012, versus the one case that would turn up per day just six years before.

What is particularly troubling is that in a time when information is readily available to the young, the highest demographic of new registered people living with HIV are in their twenties. 52 percent of new cases in 2012 were within the 20-29 age group.

Angelo Esperanzate of the AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Society of the Philippines, believes that HIV is no longer just a public health issue, but one that affects people’s lifestyles, too. “We live in a society that chooses not to talk about sex, let alone educate the kids (about) what engaging in sex entails, good and bad,” he says. “I believe that young people are fully aware that HIV exists. I also believe they know nothing about it at all.”

Angelo explains that the plethora of available information online hurts almost just as much as it helps the cause of spreading HIV awareness. The Internet may offer a lot of correct information on HIV and AIDS, but Angelo points out that stigma and discrimination against it is just as prevalent.

He also says that technological advancements have made it easier for young people to engage in casual, unprotected sex. “Negotiations for sex is easily done,” he explains. “Social networks as well as communications mediums make cyber sex as easy as searching on Google.”

But with more young people knowing that HIV is a pressing matter, it only makes sense young people’s perceptions of it have altered as well. “[People’s misconceptions] have had before and now hasn’t really changed all that much,” Angelo counters. Until now, he gets asked if HIV is a “gay disease” or if one can contract it from kissing or sharing utensils with someone. He’s even had people ask him if it’ll be better to make HIV testing mandatory so that HIV-positive individuals can easily be isolated.

That, perhaps, is the most disappointing realization on the state of HIV awareness in the country. We may be more aware, but we are just as apathetic. Peter*, a newly minted university graduate, says that he’s never really been that concerned about HIV because he doesn’t think he’ll “ever get it.”

How can we respond to the misconceptions surrounding HIV and AIDS? “Education. It’s just a matter of accessing correct information,” Angelo emphasizes. “By employing safer sexual behavior, then they decrease their exposure to the risk of HIV transmission.”

While there may be nothing wrong with having a fascination with sex, statistics clearly show that the youth still has trouble with what to do with this knowledge. Young people don’t seem to see that they’re looking through the telescope on the wrong end: they think that HIV is such a distant issue, but it’s really closer to home now that it has ever been.

For Angelo, there is no better way to address HIV than with unbiased facts and getting tested. The government has even made Social Hygiene Clinics available for free HIV screening. It is inarguably everyone’s responsibility — not just for other people’s safety but for their own, too. As he says, “It’s all about caring for yourself. No one else can do that for you.”

(*Name has been changed)