by SANKA PRICE

BARBADOS MAY BE LOSING the battle against the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among the youth, says STI specialist Dr Vijaya Thani.

She said though young people knew how these diseases were spread, it had not translated into any significant change in their behaviour. Because of this, she was treating more cases of STIs today than she did 15 years ago.

"I'm seeing a lot of herpes, at least six [cases] per month; three to four new cases of chlamydia per month; new cases of warts twice to three times per month; [and] new cases daily of bacterial vaginosis.

"This condition is not strictly sexually transmitted, but is found in women who have more than one partner; umpteen cases of yeast infections which, again, are not strictly sexually transmitted, though they can be; [and] I'm also seeing a significant rise in the number of trichomonous vaginalis, which is sexually transmitted."

STIs apart, the doctor is very perturbed about the number of pregnant teens – 14 years old – that she sees, and the high volume who have been raped.

Police statistics, she contended, did not reflect these numbers as most were not reported.

"I see a 14-year-old either coming in pregnant, or having had sex and the mother has found out there is a crisis in the family because she is pregnant or has an STI. The man involved is usually a neighbour, an uncle or a stepfather. This is very prevalent. [At least] once a month I see a pregnant girl," Thani said.

"These 14-year-olds are having sex because they hear about this thing, and it's real sweet. At that age, they are not thinking beyond that. Their thinking processes are not developed.

"They don't understand the consequences of intercourse; they're looking at going into intercourse as being part of the crowd, and some of the same kids that are telling them to have intercourse have not even tried it," she said.

"The other thing I am disturbed about is my patients having lesbian and gay associations; this has increased as well."

The doctor said that because of these situations she would like to see greater emphasis placed on informing young people about abstinence.

She has been involved with abstinence training programmes working with the National HIV/AIDS Commission for five years in about 30 primary schools where they spoke to nine-to-11-year-olds.

"We speak to them about abstinence as a choice, abstinence as an alternative to condoms, abstinence to an age of maturity like 18 and into their 20s, or until marriage."