Sudesh (age 23) came to my clinic that day very nervous. He had recently read on the internet that HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infections were rapidly increasing among young people in Sri Lanka.
"Dr. Priya, I feel very scared when I see this data. Is the situation in Sri Lanka really this bad? What is the reason for this spread, especially among young men? Can't we escape this?" Sudesh asked with great interest.
I calmly explained to Sudesh: "Sudesh, it is very important that you ask this question. Because today the increase in HIV infection among the young generation in Sri Lanka has become a serious public health problem. But the most important thing is not to be afraid of this, but to know the correct scientific information and prevention methods. Let's talk about this openly today."
The data speaks: Why is HIV increasing among young men?
If we look at the data from Sri Lanka's National Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS Control Program, it appears that a significant number of newly reported HIV infections in recent times are young men.
According to data reported in 2022, young people aged 15-24 years account for about 12% of all HIV infections. Of these, 92% are young men, and 80% of them have reported having had unprotected sex with men.
The highest number of HIV-infected people have been reported from the Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara and Kurunegala districts in the Western and North-Western provinces, and the Galle district in the Southern province. Many people only discover they have the virus after a long time. At that time, their CD4 count (the number of immune cells) is very low. This shows that they have not resorted to testing for the disease early.
Why do male homosexual relationships pose a higher risk of spreading HIV?
Several main reasons contribute to the increased risk of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) :
1. Biological Risk: During anal sex, the smooth tissue in the anus can be easily injured or scratched, making it easier for the virus in sexual fluids to enter the body directly through the bloodstream.
2. Low condom use: As revealed by various surveys, only a very small number (about 18%) of people in same-sex relationships have used condoms correctly during their last sexual intercourse.
3. Social Stigma: Due to the fear of social stigma and legal constraints, many people hide their sexual identity. This makes them very reluctant to go to health clinics and get tested for HIV.
🚨 Red Flags that require immediate medical attention
The following symptoms may appear between 2 and 6 weeks after the HIV virus enters the body (during the seroconversion illness period), and if these appear after such suspicious contact, you should immediately go to a medical clinic:
- Persistent high fever and excessive night sweats.
- Rapid loss of body weight in a short period of time for no reason (Unexplained Weight Loss).
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin for several weeks.
- Prolonged diarrhea and non-healing mouth sores or fungal infections.
How to prevent the spread of HIV? (Prevention)
The good news is that the risk of contracting HIV can be almost completely eliminated by following good health habits:
- Correct condom use: Correct use of birth control condoms every time you have sex can prevent HIV transmission by more than 90%.
- Use of PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): This is called pre-exposure prophylaxis . This medication, taken daily by people at high risk of HIV infection, prevents the risk of contracting the virus by about 99%.
- Get tested regularly: Anyone who is sexually active should get tested for HIV at least once a year. Currently, 86% of those infected in Sri Lanka know they have the virus, and UNAIDS (the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS) aims to increase this to 95%.
- Use of PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis): If unprotected sex occurs, this emergency treatment, taken within 72 hours, can prevent the virus from spreading in the body.
Treatment: Living Healthy with HIV
Although HIV was considered a fatal disease in the past, modern medical treatments have allowed patients to live as long as a normal healthy person.
The main treatment is ART (Antiretroviral Therapy) . These drugs completely control the multiplication of the virus in the body.
About 80% of people living with HIV in Sri Lanka are currently receiving ART, and 87% of them have undetectable viral loads. When the viral load is controlled to a level that is not even detectable in a blood test (Undetectable = Untransmittable), the risk of transmitting the virus to someone else is reduced to zero (0%).
Do's & Don'ts
| ✔️ Things to do (Do) | ❌ Don'ts |
|---|---|
| If you are sexually active, go to a government sex clinic or a trusted private clinic and get a confidential HIV test. | Even if symptoms appear, do not hide your illness by not going to medical clinics due to fear of societal opinions. |
| If you are in a high-risk group, use PrEP daily as directed by your doctor. | Avoid sharing syringes (this is common among drug users). |
| If you are HIV positive, take the ART medications prescribed by your doctor every day at the scheduled time without skipping. | Do not view people living with HIV with hatred or discrimination. |
❓ Some other questions you may have (FAQ)
Where can I get free HIV tests in Sri Lanka? ▼
HIV testing can be done at any government STD clinic islandwide, free of charge, with complete confidentiality.
Can using PrEP prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? ▼
No, PrEP only prevents HIV infection. Condoms must be used to protect against other sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, or herpes.
Can HIV transmission from a mother to her child be prevented? ▼
Yes, by providing the mother with proper ART treatment during pregnancy and special medications given to the child after delivery, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of the virus can be reduced to less than 1%.
Can ART completely cure HIV from the body? ▼
No, there is currently no cure for HIV in the world. However, ART drugs can keep the virus inactive in the body and allow people to live a normal, healthy life.
💬 Comments (0)
No comments have been posted yet. Add your comment here for the first time.
Add your comment