HIV infections in Children Under Age of 13!!! Rising HIV Cases in Undergrads in Malaysia due to Sexual Activity

HIV infections in Children Under Age of 13!!! Rising HIV Cases in Undergrads in Malaysia due to Sexual Activity

28 Apr 2025 • 10:30 AM MYT


Kamran
A freelance content creator

Image Credit: WOB


Recent reports highlight a concerning trend in Malaysia — HIV infections are increasing among university and school students, primarily due to sexual activities.


Dr. Zaiton Yahaya, Honorary Secretary of the Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) and the Malaysian AIDS Foundation (MAF), revealed that the majority of new cases involve young adults aged between 20 to 29 years. This age group alone accounts for 44% of all newly detected HIV cases.


Meanwhile, teenagers are not exempt from this worrying pattern. According to Dr. Zaiton, around 4% those diagnosed are school students aged between 13 and 19, with most infections also linked to sexual activity.


She emphasized that many school and university students remain unaware of the real risks associated with HIV, despite growing up in a more information-rich world. “The highest group is school and university graduates, who are unaware of the risk of infection,” she explained.


However, there is some good news. HIV infections resulting from drug use have been on the decline. This positive trend is largely credited to continuous awareness campaigns on the dangers of sharing needles, a once-dominant method of transmission.


In response to the rising infections through sexual contact, MAC and MAF are stepping up their efforts. as they are enhancing awareness programmes so that patients know where to go and where to get help. These efforts include intensified educational campaigns at schools and universities to reach young people directly.


The Ministry of Health’s (MOH) latest figures paint a broader picture: from 1986 to 2023, Malaysia recorded 135,035 HIV cases, with 54,365 cases traced specifically to sexual transmission. Alarmingly, recent data also shows eight new HIV cases involving children under the age of 13, raising additional concerns about early education on prevention.


A deeper look into the statistics reveals that 62% of recent HIV infections involve individuals from homosexual and bisexual communities, while 33% are from heterosexual couples.


The rising numbers among youth are a reminder that education, awareness, and easy access to support services are more critical than ever. With targeted initiatives, authorities hope to curb the spread and ensure that young people are empowered with the knowledge they need to protect themselves.

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kt remarks:

This is a humongous problem for Malaysia if teens as young as 13 only become HIV infected.