Spreading Rate of STIs in South Africa, Research Paper Example

South Africa currently holds an estimated 52, 981, 991 population in 2013 which is at least 18% higher compared to the population in the country 2012. At least 45% of the said population belongs to the young adult demographics who are most often than not characterized as physically strong and mentally aggressive (Muula, 2008). Alarmingly, a huge number of these young adults are born to the poverty-stricken regions of the country. Notably, such individuals have also been considered sexually active even at the age of 12 years. Estimated to have at least 5.6 million people afflicted by HIV in the country, UNAIDS note that at least 77% of this number belongs to the young adults age-range (James, 2004). .

Although the country continues to deny the said situation, the evidences are strong enough to indicate that there really is an ongoing problem in the healthcare system of the nation. Youths who hit the age of 12 are at some point sold to slavery which includes prostitution. Such move by the parents, or at times the children themselves are often the result of poverty (Muula 2008). Considerably STIs and HIV/AIDS are later on accumulated by the said individuals as they grow older and remain in the sex industry (James, 2004). Some others who develop the said ailment even without being engaged in the sex industry often get their ailments from unprotected and irresponsible intercourse with their peers or whoever they may specifically want due to sexual promiscuity.

Among the reasons that are pointed out to contribute to the situation is that of poverty and the lack of parental and institutional guidance provided to the young ones. While reproductive education is taught in most schools in the country, not everyone has the capacity to go to school to learn. Relatively, again, because of poverty, such imbalances occur. What makes a distinct indication of problem in relation to these issues is that they serve as a chained impact connected to the other aspect being evaluated. Apparently, poverty and being educated are two conflicting factors when it comes to defining the population living in South Africa (James, 2004). Given that the people try to get as much money as they could from meager jobs, they have not so much time dedicated to studying even though there are public learning programs offered in the country. For this reason, people would rather work than learn. Hence, even though some consider the reproductive learning system in the country as effective and informative, it does not have the power to reach those who are not fortunate enough to avail of regular education from institutions.

Community and culture are also observed to have strong contribution towards the rising number of young adults being subjected to the need of fighting STIs in their system. Part of the traditional ethnic groups in the country still practices particular culture on marrying and being betrothed. Notably, such consideration on stagnant development in some parts of the country render the population rather innocent about matters of contraceptives, the need to find their own mates and the positive effect of safe sexual relations even with their own mates (Muula, 2008). The community on the other hand does have one of the strongest impacts on the matter as most of the people are affected by whatever the society believes. The behavior of the majority of individuals residing in the country towards morals and sexual promiscuity could be considered low and ineffective, thus making the polices and the natural rules of safe and responsible sexual relations rather vague in the eyes and minds of the people, specifically that of the young adults.

The information presented through this discussion provide a distinct indication on the facts that cover the condition of living in South Africa and the way it handles the need to support the people’s requirement for assistance especially in relation to lowering the rate of emerging STIs among young adults. To find the information presented herein, a considerable research on both online and offline resources have been given attention to thus making the information much clearer to understand while also increasing the value of the data’s reliability. Through the indicative process of looking through data on trusted references, the research presented in this paper provides a distinct data on how STI occurrence among youths in South Africa is being handled in the country and how it actually affects the current status of the country in relation to the international health concern for STI emergence within individuals belonging to a particular age range.

Works Cited

Humanitarian News and Analysis. ZIMBABWE: Worrying rise in STIs among young people. http://www.irinnews.org/report/88810/zimbabwe-worrying-rise-in-stis-among-young-people. Retrieved on October 26, 2013.

Muula, A. (2008). HIV Infection and AIDS Among Young Women in South Africa. Croat Med J. 2008 June; 49(3): 423–435.. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2443629/. Retrieved on October 26, 2013.

James, S. (2004). Young people, HIV/AIDS/STIs and sexuality in South Africa: the gap between awareness and behaviour.. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15046286. Retrieved on October 26, 2013.