STDs on the rise due to increased sexual activity outside of marriage

The Department of National Planning has said that Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) are on the rise in the Maldives due to increased sexual activity outside of marriage among youths.

A report based on a study conducted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Department of National Planning published yesterday stated that trends exist in the Maldivian society that increase the risk of AIDs and other STDs, such as sexual activity outside of marriage among youths, prostitution and injections of drugs.

The report noted that unsafe abortion also takes place in the Maldives, and highlighted the importance of increasing life skills reproductive health awareness.

The report mentioned several recommendations to address these issues, such as organising activities to discipline youths and change the manner in which they communicate.

This study by the UNFPA and the Department of National Planning follows the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The purpose of the study was to understand the extent to which the goals determined during this conference had been achieved.

The conference was held in Egypt in 1994 and attended by 179 countries. All the countries agreed to achieve the goals set at the conference within 20 years, or by next year.