An alarming surge in HIV cases among minors in the Philippines was spotlighted in an episode of GMA‘s Reporter’s Notebook.
According to the documentary, there are two main causes of the rise in HIV cases: a lack of awareness among minors and mother-to-child transmission.
The episode followed “Vincent,” a young man who turned to sex work due to poverty. Vincent admitted that he knew nothing about protection, leading him to have unprotected sex with clients. At just 17 years old, he was diagnosed with HIV.
In the conservative society of the Philippines, sex education is not taught in schools. Without understanding how HIV is transmitted and how to prevent it, more minors are engaging in unsafe practices. This lack of awareness, combined with fear and stigma, also causes them to avoid testing and discussing HIV.
Another key issue highlighted in the documentary is mother-to-child transmission. HIV-positive mothers who are unaware of their status or do not receive the right medical care pass the virus to their babies during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
Babies born with HIV typically have the virus for life. Thankfully, advances in treatment mean they can live long, healthy lives with proper care.
The documentary stressed that by focusing on better education and maternal health services, the Philippines can work towards lowering HIV cases among minors. It concluded by emphasizing the importance of increased government programs to combat misinformation and help society better understand HIV.
Watch the full documentary below.
Source: YouTube
