DOH: 86 HIV Cases Are Teens, Kids In January 2023 Alone. Here's How To Start Sex Education

Of the 1,454 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) recorded in January 2023, 86 were adolescents and children. This is according to the report the Department of Health (DOH) released last March 13.

The age group 10 to 19 years old accounted for the 79 cases, and the remaining seven cases to those below 9 years old.

Among the adolescent cases, sexual contact is the mode of transmission of HIV, except for one case which has no data for the mode of transmission.

For those aged 2 to 9 years old, the infection was transmitted through their mothers.

The rising numbers of HIV infection among the youth is a cause for alarm especially among parents. Thus education for both the parents and their children is of utmost and urgent importance, Dr. Rontgene M. Solante, an infectious diseases specialist, said in an interview with TeleRadyo.

Teaching sex education

"It’s not surprising though that most parents would shy away from teaching their kids about sex," says Smart Parenting's resident sex education expert Dr. Rica Cruz. "We had no model on it and we didn’t experience it growing up."

Start teaching your child at a young age

Nevertheless, the US-board certified sexologist and sex and relationships therapist points out, "The practice of teaching kids about sex should start even before they can talk."

Dr. Cruz's tween daughter Caia Miella, in an article they co-wrote, agrees: "I think that children should be taught about sex at an early age because from what I remember, I have known sex education almost my whole life."

Caia adds,  "I suggest that parents talk to their kids about sex at around three to five years old. I believe that teaching kids at an early age can help with general knowledge of it when they get older."

Dr. Cruz suggests integrating sex education into teaching kids about their basic body parts. So apart from heads, shoulders, knees, and toes, you can add vulva, penis, vagina, butt, nipples, clitoris, and such.

Caia recalls her classmates looking at the dictionary and laughing at the word penis. "And for me it’s not funny," she says. "But they were all laughing!"

Teach boundaries at around 2 years old

Dr. Cruz explains, "By this time, they should learn about what is and is not appropriate when it comes to touching other people and being touched by other people. It is important that you teach them how to ask before touching others, by doing so yourselves."

She gives this example: "When washing their genitals, you can ask first by describing what you need to do, 'We need to wash your butt because you pooped, is it okay if I touch it?'"

She then points out, "More often than not, they will allow you to wash them, but, if they say no, then you have to respect it and give them time. Alternatively, you can use their own hands to wash, so it’s them touching themselves. You can say, 'OK, do you want me to teach you how to do it?' And take their cue from there."

Answer your child's questions with honesty

"Don’t be afraid to answer their questions," says Dr. Cruz. "Take the cue from them on how detailed they want the explanation to be. You don’t have to be too graphic about it, but you should also never lie about it."

She adds, "At this time, you may want to tell them that babies come from two adults getting their bodies together to share the sperm and the egg to make a baby. You may also want to tell them that there are times that the sperm and the egg may come from other people and that there are other ways where they can meet."

Read here for more tips on talking about sex with your children.