RESEARCH
Studies of HIV/AIDS


Program Sihat Tanpa AIDS untuk Remaja (PROSTAR) or Healthy Program Without AIDS For Youth was formulated based on a number of studies that indicated problems and issues concerning the youth that needed to be addressed. This prompted several more intensive studies to determine the factors that led to their involvement in activities that could expose them to HIV/AIDS.

  • Statistics on HIV/AIDS obtained from the Ministry of Health indicated that more than 36 percent of people infected with HIV comprised youth below 29 years of age.

  • A study carried out in 1994 on the “chill out” behaviour or loitering among the youth showed that 18 percent of the 6,110 respondents had practised free sex.

  • A ‘Youth and AIDS' study conducted in 1996 on 4,347 youth between the ages of 13 and 25 years further showed that six percent had practised free sex while five percent had been involved in drug use.

  • Statistics obtained from the National Drugs Agency showed that 20,500 (or 55 percent) of known drug addicts in 1998 were below 29 years of age.