WHO warns of rising unsafe sex among Asians

WHO warns of rising unsafe sex among Asians

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Manila

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday urged Asian governments to allocate more funds for adolescent health programs, warning that increasing unsafe sexual behaviors were putting the youth at higher risks.

WHO's regional office for the Western Pacific said studies show that adolescents "lack the knowledge and skills to avoid risky behaviors".

"Acceptable, affordable and appropriate reproductive-health information and services are also lacking," it said in a statement. "In addition, poverty and unemployment put adolescents in a vulnerable position."

WHO cited studies in the Philippines showing that 23 percent of people between 15 and 24 years old "had engaged in premarital sex, 70 percent of them without the use of contraceptives".

"In Mongolia, up to 58 percent of sexually transmitted infections occur among the youths," it added.

Shigeru Omi, WHO regional director, said the global health body aims to address the issues of adolescent health during a consultative meeting in Manila next week.

He said the meeting would review adolescent health programs and see how Asian countries can work together to achieve the common goal of improving adolescent reproductive health.

"Social norms regarding sexual activity and sexual behavior have changed, but the environment to support the adolescents to face these changes has not," he noted. "Governments must allocate more funds and improve services for adolescents."

He said the Manila meeting, which aims to develop a strategy to for adolescent sexual and reproductive health, was being organized in coordination with the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund and other partner agencies.