HIV ignorance of the young

[AB Asks]

Nine out of ten young people don't even think about HIV when making decisions about sex. A poll of over 1,500 has shown the shocking attitude towards the deadly virus. It is thought that the attitudes are due to the fact that younger people missed out on the campaigns about the virus in the eighties. What do you think? Do we need to make our younger generations more aware of the virus and how it is caught as well as the dangers it poses?

[Ice-Maiden]

Excuse me rev - did it get draughty?

[Skreecheeboy]

I think there are a number of causes of this, importantly there are hardly any male teachers willing to discuss things like safe sex with kids. If a responsible bloke had taught me about safe sex I'd never have been stricken with my incurable, irritating, if harmless std. I now have to wear a wet suit when I go swimming or else face the guilt of transmission to another person, an act I fear more than anything in the world.

[Reverandfunk]

It was draughty and a bit windy for a while but then she closed her legs

[Ice-Maiden]

Ohhh!!!!! Mwhahahaha!!!!!!!!

[Ice-Maiden]

Are you talking about HIV here Screech? It's not really a harmless std is it!

[Skreecheeboy]

Of course I'm not Ice-Maiden! Sorry I assumed that calling it a harmless irritance would have cleared it up without actually having to name it!

[jake-the-peg]

This is going to be contentious but:

http://www.avert.org/uksummary.htm
The number of heterosexually acquired HIV infections diagnosed in the UK has risen hugely over the last 15 years. In 1999, for the first time, the rate of heterosexually acquired HIV diagnoses overtook the rate of diagnoses in men who have sex with men. During 2006, there were 3,430 reports of heterosexually acquired HIV, and a total of 36,603 had been reported by the end of June 2007.

Most of the new diagnoses are in people who probably acquired HIV in other countries, particularly in Africa. However, the number of infections probably acquired from heterosexual sex within the UK has soared from 183 in 1998 to 549 in 2006

[Ice-Maiden]

You just worded it a bit oddly Skreech - but no, it's no laughing matter. I hope you continue to feel fit and well.

[Ice-Maiden]

Sorry Skreech - the wording just sounded a bit odd. It's no laughing matter though, and I hope you continue to feel fit and well.

[oldgrape]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Family/Question 461680.html

[Skreecheeboy]

Cheers IceMaiden but I've never felt better actually! Wouldn't hurt to have a girlfriend but apparently 1 in 5 folk have what I'm on about so I've kind of come to terms with it. I don't think I'll be a singleton forever, just a case of deciding which one's the one, got it down to about 4 or 5 at the moment that I suspect might have it too but that figure's grown somewhat in the past couple of weeks! Would hate to think what it would be like to have something worse though!

[activology]

I believe the earlier you explain to children about sex and drugs ect the quicker you can get onto subjects like this and I think it's important to talk about these things the earlier the better so as to make sure their not ignorant or judgemental about these kinds of things!
My son is 11 now and because he was told in a mature manner by myself is now aware of safe sex and drug using disease ect!
I was told by his teacher in his last year of juniors which was only last sept. that he was the only child that did not giggle or make any silly remarks!
I think it is incredibly important to keep talking about it to children so it isn't forgotton because it is such an important issue but to also let them no that a 'disease or infection' although doesn't sound like a nice word from what they hear in life isn't always caused by a dirty thing (if that makes sense)
I must point out though I've had no look as of yet with the "I hate girls" thing lol (on a lighter note)