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Every year, there are an estimated 1.6 million homeless youth in the United States. Some stay on the street for few days, “while others have been living on the streets for more than a year” (Feliciano, 2009). It is estimated that the number of youth that’s permanently homeless is over 200,000. These youths live an exceedingly difficult, dangerous life marked with numerous health problems. According to the National Coalition for Homeless “every year over 5,000 teenagers succumb to HIV/AIDS” (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2008).
“Homeless youth face many challenges on the streets” (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2008).Most of these youths have limited legal means through which they can make money to meet their day to day needs. Sex then becomes a commodity that increases chance of survival in the street. It’s for these reasons that many homeless youth result to exchanging sex for shelter, drugs, clothing and food. This practice put many of these youths “at a greater risk of contracting AIDS or HIV-related illnesses” (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2008)
Based on a study carried out by the National Network for youth in 2009, 5 percent of homeless youths are infected with HIV/AIDS nationwide. State based studies range from as low as 2 percent to as high as 20 percent of homeless youth. (Dennis, 2007). In Francisco for example, one study found that approximately 17 percent of homeless youths were infected with HIV/AIDS. The rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence is “2 to 10 times higher than the rates reported for other samples of adolescents in the United States” (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2008)
Homeless youths, whose lives are deeply rooted in the street culture, are at a greater risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. In Hollywood for example, 29 percent of homeless male youths and 33 percent of homeless female youth had at one time in their lives contracted sexually transmitted disease. Most of these youths begin active sexual activities at a very young age; they have multiple sex partners and are constantly sexually abused. Studies carried out in the city of New York in 2008 showed that 21 percent of homeless youth males and 24 percent of homeless female youths had “more than 100 lifetime partners” (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2008). Figures from country-wide studies also show that approximately 76 percent of “homeless youth are sexually active compared to 48 percent of all United States adolescents” (Feliciano, 2009).
Studies from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows that only less than 30 percent of homeless youth use condoms on regular basis. These increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other STDs. The studies also showed that shows that most of the homeless youths have sex under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Forced sex has also been shown to be a major cause of increased cases of HIV/AIDS. In Baltimore for example, one study showed that 26 percent of homeless youths had at one time been forced to have sex.
There are approximately 1.6 million homeless youths in the United States. 5 percent of homeless youths are infected with HIV/AIDS. In some States the percentage of homeless youth infected with HIV/AIDS is as high as 17%. 76 percent of homeless youths are sexually active. Only Less that 30 percent of homeless youths use condoms on regular basis. Most of them engage in sexual activity under alcohol and drug influence while some are forced into having unsafe sex. These behavior increases the risk of HIV/AIDS.
Works Cited
Dennis, D. Toward Understanding Homelessness:The 2007 National Symposium on Homelessness Research. Web.
Feliciano, M. (2009). Program Assistance Letter: Understanding the Health Care Needs of Homeless Youth. Web.
National Coalition for the Homeless. (2008). Homeless Youth. Web.
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