Patricia Watson, Senior Staff ReporterA significant number of adolescents who are sexually active are being denied the tools to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections, including the deadly HIV.
According to experts, the attitude of members of the health sector and society in general may unwittingly be driving up cases of STIs, especially among girls. They say as a result of the behaviour of these individuals it is almost impossible for teenagers to access condoms or even basic information on sex and sexuality.
Up to June 2001, 36 youth between the ages 15 and 24 were newly infected with with HIV. In 2000, the Ministry of Health reported that the rate of primary syphilis in girls 10-14 years increased threefold and that each year the number of new HIV infections in adolescents doubles. The highest infection rate for HIV in Jamaica occurs among youth 15 to 24 years old.
These facts are not only due to a resistance to condom use, but a deeper problem where teenagers are being denied access to condoms by clinics, pharmacies and guidance counsellors who should know better.
"Young people are ill-treated when they go to community health centres. Some are told 'yu love wood too much' or that they 'tek on big man tings before time," Yulonda Smith, adolescent advisor to Youth.Now told The Sunday Gleaner. Youth.Now is a non-governmental organisation which advocates adolescence rights, respect and responsibility in reproductive and sexual health.
A great deal of this ridicule, Miss Smith said, is directed at girls. Boys, she explained, can get condoms while in many cases, the girls are refused and ridiculed. A study done way back in 1996 also noted that only 17 per cent of health providers say they give condoms to girls and more than 75 per cent gave it to boys (Teenagers at Risk).
Cate Lane, programme manager for youth friendly services at the NGO also noted the difficulties teen-agers face in accessing condoms and other contraceptives. According to her, Jamaica is a highly sexual society, where on the one hand mixed messages are sent out to teenagers and on the other hand they are expected to behave "morally".
"Young people are not treated as individuals ... they usually report having negative, unpleasant experiences at clinics. They are lectured to ... It is not easy for young people to get good service at the clinics and many would prefer to use the private sector," she explained.
Mrs. Lane noted that at some health facilities, the security guards are the ones who take information from clients - a big turn off for adults, much less adolescents.
Executive director of the Women's Centre Foundation of Jamaica, Beryl Weir, pointed to similar problems.
"At clinics, the problem is not only the health providers. They may be turned away by ancillary staff. 'Whey a likkle pickney like yu asking bout that for?'."
Mrs. Weir explains that health providers need to seize these opportunities to counsel adolescents when they do turn up.
"We need to realise we are dealing with people trying to come to terms with their sexuality. The curiosity to experiment is strong at this time and we need to understand this. Teaching about sex and sexuality does not make young people promiscuous. It allows them to make informed choices. It is the quality of service and information we provide that will make them want to make the correct choices," Mrs. Weir said.
"Teenagers at Risk", a document prepared by Marjan deBruin for Youth.Now, show what many Jamaicans already know, that a significant number of adolescents are sexually active. The data showed that in 2000, "28 per cent of male teenagers - more than one in every four - approved of men having multiple partners." It also found that 76 per cent of the male teenagers in the study were sexually active and 54 per cent of the female teenagers.
In addition, among those 15-19 years old, 48 per cent of the males and 60 per cent of females don't always use a condom with their regular partner.
A major part of the Ministry of Health's drive to reduce HIV encourages Jamaicans to practice safe sex or no sex at all. This will be significantly hampered, however, if there is a reluctance to speak honestly about sex with adolescents.
Part of the problem, said Mrs. Lane, are the innerconflicts individuals in the health sector face as it pertains to sex and contraceptives.
"There is a real conflict with personal, religious and moral beliefs and what their duties are. There are conflicts whether to distribute condoms or contraceptives," she ex-plained.
In many instances they usually succumb to their beliefs rather than providing the contraceptive.
"In terms of schools, whether this is fact or myth, a lot of students will not go to guidance counsellors because they feel they are not to be trusted. We have no proof this is true, but what we know is that they have formed this perspective and will not speak to them on issues of sexuality," Mrs. Weir noted.
She also explained that many counsellors are ill-prepared to deal with the issue of sex.
"To speak with students about sexuality, persons must not be judgemental and should be able to give advice about choices. We are not explaining to them (adolescents) that if you are sexually active you are likely to become HIV+ or will become pregnant."
