Progress and challenges of HIV and other STIs in adolescents and young adults

In 2020, more than 50% of incident sexually transmitted infections (STIs),1 and approximately 27% of incident HIV cases, were estimated to occur among adolescents and young adults.2 The syndemics of HIV and other STIs interact to undermine health, especially in adolescent and young adult populations. Risk factors among adolescents and young adults include both behavioural and identity factors (early initiation of sex, injection drug use, injection drug use by sexual partners, sex with multiple partners, being a man who has sex with men, or being transgender) and social determinants (poverty and inequality, reduced access to education, stigma, ignorance, sex work, and political opposition to effective HIV prevention programmes such as needle exchange and comprehensive sexuality education).