UNICEF Warns Adolescent Girls Remain Disproportionately Affected by HIV, Despite Global Progress.
New York:
UNICEF is calling for urgent action to address the rising HIV infections among adolescent girls, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, as global progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS continues. Ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1, the organization highlighted that, while new HIV infections among children and adolescents have declined globally, girls remain disproportionately affected, especially in regions with high infection rates.
According to the latest data, 96,000 girls and 41,000 boys aged 15-19 were newly infected with HIV in 2023, with girls accounting for 70% of new adolescent infections. In sub-Saharan Africa, the figure is even starker, with nine out of ten new HIV infections among adolescents in this age group occurring in girls.
The report also notes that while there have been significant reductions in new HIV infections in some regions, such as Eastern and Southern Africa, the infection rates in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East have remained stagnant or increased in recent years. In 2023, over 250,000 new HIV infections were recorded among children and adolescents, with the total number of children and adolescents living with HIV now standing at 2.4 million globally.
The HIV response has seen notable improvements, but children and adolescents, especially girls, are still not benefiting equally from treatment and prevention services. Despite 77% of adults with HIV having access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), only 57% of children aged 0-14 and 65% of adolescents aged 15-19 receive the same level of care. Furthermore, over 90,000 children and adolescents died from AIDS-related causes in 2023, underscoring the critical need for targeted interventions.
UNICEF urges governments and partners to prioritize investments in adolescent girls’ health, expand innovative testing technologies, and scale up HIV prevention and treatment services to ensure that no child or adolescent is left behind in the fight against HIV/AIDS.