Often I would have the opportunity to meet and discuss with young people, aspects related to their sexual practices.
Unfortunately, many of them even though sexually active, lacked proper understanding and made unsafe sexual choices.
From the young man who once told me that he was not afraid of contracting the HIV/AIDS virus because he frequently used antibiotics, to the young girl who didn't think she could get pregnant if she either used two condoms at once or certain sex positions.
The lifelong implications of unsafe sexual practices are too great for discussions about sex and sexuality to be taboo. Sexual health impacts young people's social and economic stability at present and in the long term. Data from the Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS), which were collected from 2,969 secondary school students (13�15 years) at 32 schools in 2007, showed that students initiated sexual activity early, around the age of puberty, with male students reported as more sexually active than female students.
These practices contribute to increased risk for HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections, illegal abortions and unplanned teenage pregnancy.
Prevention should always be the foundation of any strategy to target youth.
The emphasis should be on assisting them in understanding their roles and responsibilities as sexual beings in an unbiased, factual and comprehensive manner using mediums young people can relate to.
Kheston Walkins, PhD candidate and young leader selected for the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative instituted by President Obama is doing just that.
We are using technology to promote and increase accessibility and awareness for conception, launching in Trinidad and Tobago with the hope that it can be used as a model worldwide.