(2/21/2009)
BeritaBali.com revealed the concerning statistic that 51% of the HIV/AIDS cases occurring in Bali affect teenagers and young people between the ages of 15 and 29-years.
The survey, conducted by Lembaga Pemerhati Remaja (Kisara) cited cases of infection among Balinese youth as young as 13-years-old. The dimension of the tragedy are also suggested by figures provided by the Bali Commission for the Control and AIDS (KPA) which estimates 2,400 cases of HIV/AIDS on the Island.
In speaking to the press on February 16, 2009, the Coordinator of KISARA in Denpasar, Nyoman Sutarsa, said that most cases of HIV/AIDS among Balinese youth occur because of sexual contamination as opposed to the sharing of intravenous needles.
Lack of Information
Sutarsa blamed the high rate of infection among Balinese youth as attributable to the lack of information available on the subject. Sutarsa explained: "There is a connection between the information made available to youth and the ability to change behavior. Our target is to the change behavior of the young through the provision of service and information."
The same study conducted by Kisara from September 2008 until January 2009 also revealed 211 cases of out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Of that total, 88% involved teenage mothers.
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