Citation

Richens J. Genitourin. Med. 1994; 70(4): 278-283.

Affiliation

Academic Department of Medicine, University School of Medicine, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

7959715

PMCID

PMC1195255

Abstract

The populations of developing countries have younger age structures than the populations of more developed, Western countries. That is, children, adolescents, and youth constitute a far greater proportion of the populations of developing countries than in developed countries. These young people experiment with sex and sexual intercourse or have coitus on a regular basis depending upon their individual personalities and circumstances. The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) among younger age groups in developing countries is not well documented. It may, however, be inferred on the basis of reported experience of STD in surveys of adolescents and young adults that many children are infected with STDs. Some young people have sex consensually, some are coaxed into it, and others are coerced. On the one hand, young children have been thought to contract STD by sitting on the laps of infected, scantily-clad adults where such limited attire is the norm. Close contact between youngsters such as communal sleeping, for example, could then facilitate the spread of the STD among children. Sex, consensual or otherwise, is not involved in such infection and transmission beyond the index adult. On the other hand, however, many children and adolescents are forced to have sexual relations and/or intercourse either directly against their will or as a result of the primal need to ensure their individual survival. For example, there are an estimated 100-200 million street children worldwide; many have little alternative but to sell sex to survive. When having sex, they may not use condoms because they are unaware of the STD risk they face, they have no access to free condoms, clients/employers/peers prevent them from using condoms, or due to a myriad of other reasons. Struggling to survive, many such kids place condom use very low on their list of priorities. Children and adolescents can also become infected and transmit STDs to others by engaging in sexual intercourse under more narrowly-defined cultural norms. For example, the belief exists that a male with urethritis can be cured by sexual intercourse with a virgin or prepubertal girl. Elsewhere, it is normal practice for an adult male, typically a boy's uncle, to have anal insertive sexual intercourse with the boy on a regular basis over the period of a couple years to facilitate his transition into manhood. People in young age groups around the world have sex for a range of reasons under a variety of conditions. Measures are needed to ensure that they have the means to prevent infection with STDs and control that infection, if possible, once acquired. Sections discuss vulvovaginitis, donovanosis, chancroid, and venereal and nonvenereal treponematosis, as well as prevention and future research.

Language: en