A Regional UN Strategy for Behavior Change Communication for Young People (10-24) in South Asia

As in other regions of the world, youth in South Asia will be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. This has major implications for a region in which approximately 54 % of its population is below the age of 25 – the age of vulnerability for risk taking behaviour. Infection patterns already show the disturbing trend of increased infections in young people below the age of 25. Of the estimated four million people living with HIV/AIDS in the region more than one third are young people below the age of 25. This trend in infections means that large numbers of young people could become affected with devastating human and economic consequences.

The Regional Strategy has an objective of reducing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among young people aged 10-24, and to increase access to care and support services for those affected by the epidemic by 2003 in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.