UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM

ANTIPOLO CITY

"Rising HIV/AIDS Prevalence Among Filipino Youth: A Comprehensive Analysis of

Research Study

Researchers:

Batan, Iannah G.
Elaydo, John Paolo
Espinosa, Kim Matthew
Loterte, Jhon Michael A.
Lobitos, Jennilyn S.

Subject Teacher:
Prof. Gilda M. Romano
Introduction
HIV/AIDS remains a global public health challenge, but in recent years, the alarming
rise of HIV cases among Filipino youth has drawn significant concern. According to the
Department of Health (DOH) and the HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines
(HARP), the number of new HIV infections in the country has been increasing at an alarming
rate, particularly among individuals aged 15 to 24 years old. This age group now accounts for
nearly 30% of newly reported HIV cases, reflecting a worrying trend in the country’s fight
against the epidemic. The rise in HIV infections among young Filipinos is linked to multiple
risk factors, including unprotected sex, lack of awareness and education, limited access to
HIV prevention services, and social stigma.

Many young individuals engage in risky sexual behaviors due to peer pressure,
inadequate sexual health education, and misconceptions about HIV transmission. The stigma
surrounding HIV also discourages people from getting tested or seeking treatment, further
exacerbating the problem. If left unaddressed, this increasing trend could lead to severe
public health consequences and place a heavier burden on the country’s healthcare system.
Additionally, the influence of digital platforms has been a double-edged sword in the fight
against HIV. Research by Castro et al. (2023) suggests that while social media has helped
spread awareness about HIV prevention, it has also contributed to the rise of casual hookups
through dating apps, leading to higher chances of risky sexual behavior. A 2020 report from
UNAIDS Philippines also emphasizes that strengthening comprehensive sex education (CSE)
in schools is crucial in equipping young individuals with accurate information about HIV
prevention and safe sexual practices.

This narrative report aims to analyze the key risk factors, societal influences, and current
prevention strategies related to the increasing HIV/AIDS cases among Filipino youth. It will
evaluate the effectiveness of existing health programs, government interventions, and
advocacy campaigns while identifying gaps that need improvement. By examining these
factors, this report seeks to contribute to the ongoing efforts in reducing HIV infections,
promoting sexual health awareness, and fostering a stigma-free environment for HIV
prevention and treatment in the Philippines.
Who are affected?

The following groups are affected by the study on rising HIV/AIDS prevalence among
Filipino youth:

• Filipino youth (15-24 years old): This is the most directly affected group, as they are the
population experiencing the alarming increase in HIV infections. The study focuses
specifically on this age group, analyzing their risk factors, behaviors, and access to
prevention services. The research aims to understand why this group is disproportionately
affected and how to better protect them.

• The broader Filipino population: While the study focuses on youth, the rising HIV
prevalence has implications for the entire country. It strains the healthcare system, impacts
families and communities, and has broader social and economic consequences. The health of
the youth population is vital for the nation's future.

• Families and communities of affected youth: HIV/AIDS impacts not only the individual but
also their loved ones. Families face emotional, social, and financial burdens. Communities
may also experience stigma and discrimination related to HIV.

• Healthcare providers and public health officials: The study's findings are crucial for
informing healthcare policies, developing effective prevention programs, and improving
treatment strategies. Understanding the risk factors and challenges faced by young Filipinos
is essential for providing appropriate care and resources.

• Policymakers and government agencies: The research can guide policymakers in allocating
resources, implementing public health campaigns, and creating legislation related to sexual
health education, access to testing and treatment, and addressing social stigma.

• Researchers and academics: The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on
HIV/AIDS in the Philippines and provides a basis for further research. It also highlights gaps
in current knowledge and areas where more investigation is needed.
Possible Effect

The increasing rates of HIV/AIDS among Filipino youth are becoming more serious and
alarming, having a serious impact on individuals, societies, and the entire healthcare
organizations nowadays. HIV/AIDS infection severely impact the life and health of young
individuals. They will face devastating consequences including a weakened immune system,
making them prone to other serious infections. Aside from that, it can also severely affect
their future opportunities impacting their education and difficulties in employment leading to
trajectory. Due to the increasing number of Filipino youths having HIV/AIDS, it also makes
an impact on the society. Making people disgrace, disrespect, and discriminate against
infected individuals, which makes them put in an unusual situation. They are also high risk
when it comes to developing mental conditions and illness such as depression, stress and
social anxiety which prevent them from seeking support and medical services. HIV positive
individuals can also feel insecurities to their physical aspect because of the visible symptoms
including rapid weight loss, mouth ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, and skin problems or rash
that can possibly lead to difficulties to live normally because they can feel that they are
different from other people. HIV positive can result in self-consciousness and can have a
negative impact on their self-esteem. Moreover, due to the rapid growing issue of HIV and
the increasing number of those who have tested positive, this issue has significantly impacted
and raised many concerns. It has reached health care organizations such as the World Health
Organization and The Joint United Nations Programmed on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). These
organizations take actions immediately and offer solutions including programs and
orientation. Overall, various organizations joined forces to prevent, stop, and end the
increasing cases of HIV.
Solution

With modern treatment, HIV has transitioned from a usually fatal disease to a
chronic condition that can be managed long-term, similar to how chronic diseases are
managed with proper medication and lifestyle changes, allowing people to live relatively
normal lives with both conditions when properly treated. However, it's important to note that
they have distinct causes and mechanisms. In which HIV is an infectious virus spread from
the body fluids of an infected person, including blood, breast milk, semen and vaginal fluids.
It is not spread by kisses, hugs or sharing food. It can also spread from a mother to her baby.
HIV can be treated and prevented with antiretroviral therapy (ART). This involves taking a
combination of HIV medicines called an HIV treatment regimen on a regular schedule,
usually every day (pills) or once a month/every two months (injections).

However, ART cannot cure HIV, but these HIV medicines help people with HIV live
long, healthy lives. HIV medicines prevent HIV from multiplying (making copies of itself),
which reduces the amount of HIV in the body (called the viral load). Having less HIV in the
body gives the immune system a chance to recover and produce more infection-fighting CD4
cells. By reducing the amount of HIV in the body, HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV
transmission. One of the main goals of HIV treatment is to reduce a person’s viral load to an
undetectable level. People with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively
no risk of transmitting HIV through sex, and a significantly lower risk of transmission
through other means. It is especially important for people with AIDS-defining conditions or
within 6 months of HIV infection to start HIV medicines right away.

The key to arresting the AIDS epidemic in developing countries is preventing HIV
infection by changing individual behavior. The World Bank Research Report Confronting
AIDS: Public Priorities in a Global Epidemic finds that people who engage in high-risk
behavior do act to reduce their risk of contracting and spreading HIV when they have the
knowledge and means to do so and a supportive community. Providing knowledge of how
extensive HIV infection is in one’s community how the virus is transmitted, and how to avoid
contracting it, will induce some people to behave more safely—for example, by using
condoms, reducing the number of sexual partners, sterilizing injecting equipment, or avoiding
needle sharing. Governments also need to invest in public goods essential to the control of
HIV. This is through seminar, program, and comprehensive sexual education which provides
discussion on sexual and reproductive health and rights, family planning and methods,
HIV/STD/AIDs awareness, and SOGIE (sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression).
Programs that aim to prevent HIV among those with the riskiest behavior are controversial
but they save lives. Without them, the epidemic cannot be stopped. Emotional responses are
not a good guide to dealing with this public health problem. The public needs to understand
that the most effective way of preventing an epidemic that could eventually affect all of us in
some way is to encourage those most likely to contract and spread HIV to adopt safer
behavior. Stigmatization of these individuals and discrimination against them are
counterproductive. Only by facing these difficult issues will developing countries succeed in
blunting the tragic impact of STD, HIV, and AIDS.

Summary

The rising trend of HIV/AIDS among Filipino adolescents, aged between 15 to 24 years,
has been a critical public health concern in the Philippines. The Department of Health (DOH)
and the HIV/AIDS & ART Registry of the Philippines (HARP) data reveal that the group has
almost 30% of the newly diagnosed HIV cases, thus reflecting an alarming trend of the HIV
epidemic in the Philippines. Unprotected sex, poor access to HIV prevention services,
inadequate sexual health education, and high social stigma are the principal risk factors of the
rise. These are aggravated by the use of online media, which, while creating awareness, has
also promoted casual sex and unsafe sex habits through dating apps.

The impacts of HIV/AIDS are not only on the infected but also have implications for
families, communities, and the overall healthcare system. HIV-infected youth have severe
health implications, including compromised immune systems, heightened susceptibility to
opportunistic infections, and long-term physical and mental health implications such as
depression and social anxiety. The stigma of HIV also deters individuals from seeking tests
and treatment, thus continuing the transmission cycle. At the population level, the epidemic is
a strain on the healthcare system and enhances social and economic costs, while families and
communities incur emotional and financial losses.
 Efforts to contain this crisis also include the promotion of antiretroviral therapy
(ART), which, while it does not cure, allows one to live with HIV as a chronic condition and
greatly curbs risks of transmission. Prevention, however, is paramount. Public health
interventions, community interventions, and integral sexual education (CSE) are central in
educating young people with accurate information and promoting safer practices. Seminars,
workshops, and advocacy for sexual and reproductive health rights are necessary in reducing
stigma and promoting testing and treatment.

The study emphasizes the necessity of a unified strategy with government agencies,
health professionals, policymakers, and civil society. Enhancing the public health
infrastructure, increasing preventive and therapeutic access, and confronting social stigma are
integral components in containing the epidemic. By focusing on evidence-based measures
and developing a facilitative environment, the Philippines can counteract the effects of
HIV/AIDS on its youth and ensure the overall health and well-being of the country's future.
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