Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) - June 14, 2002
Suzan Chala
According to HIV statistics released by the Department of Health, the future of the South African youth may not be as gloomy as most think.
A department survey found that HIV infection rates among teenagers have dropped for four consecutive years. The infection prevalence has decreased from 21% in 1998 to 16,5% in 1999 to 16,1% in 2000 and 15,4% last year.
Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang attributed the drop to the prevention campaigns that have encouraged safe sex among the youth. One of the popular organisations that have been running such campaigns is loveLife.
The campaign was initiated in 1999 under the auspices of first lady Zanele Mbeki to encourage and promote positive lifestyles among the youth. The organisation has a number of programmes implemented by NGOs.
Last year a loveLife survey found that more than 60% of the country's youth knew about the organisation's programmes. About 38% had not heard of the organisation.
The survey also found that about 77% of sexually active youths know that condoms protect against HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted infections.
But there are problems: only 42% of parents believed in open communication about sex and sexuality with their children, and that youths primarily get this information from the media and at school.
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