SPEAK OUT

AIDS
Sexual Activity among Street Children in Rwanda

A survey of street children living in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, reveals them to be "a high-risk population", characterised by early sexual experimentation, multiple sex partners, unprotected sex, drug abuse and poor nutrition. The median age of the 238 children was 13 years, ranging from six to 20. Most of them were male, while 54 were female. Over half of those interviewed had lost both parents, and 13 percent had one parent.

Just over half the boys and over three-quarters of the girls interviewed reported having had sex. A full 35 percent of those under 10 were found to be sexually active.

Awareness among the children was found to be higher regarding AIDS than any other sexually transmitted disease (STD), with gonorrhoea and syphilis coming second and third. Almost all of the children (over 97 percent) were aware of at least one infection that could be transmitted sexually, and almost one-third of the boys and 10 percent of the girls reported having experienced one symptom of an STD. A full 11 percent of those aged under 10 reported having experienced one symptom of an STD. Despite knowledge of HIV prevention measures, only one-third of the sexually active boys and 8 percent of their female counterparts reported being capable of procuring a condom if necessary. Condom usage was found to be very low, with only 36 percent of boys and 23.8 percent of girls reporting having used a condom.
Reasons for not using condoms included the following: did not think of
using one (30 percent), condom not available (25 percent), condom too expensive (22 percent) and partner against use of condom (8 percent). Only 11.5 percent of the boys and 13 percent of the girls reported having used condoms or other forms of contraceptives with the specific objective of preventing pregnancy, as opposed to a means of protecting themselves from HIV or other STDs. The incidence of rape was found to be high: 63 percent of the boys reported having forced a girl to have sex with them, while 93 percent of the girls reported having been forced by either a boy or man.

The average number of sex partners among the children was also found to be high. During the previous six months, the average number for boys was 2.9 and for girls 2.1. None of the children interviewed were currently attending school, and two-thirds had never attended school. Most of those who had attended school said they had completed less than four years at primary level. Recommendations from the survey were: the inclusion of an income-generation component in any project, information about STDs and the dangers of unprotected sex, and the development of life skills, including sexual negotiation, priority setting, and identifying the immediate and long-term consequences of chosen courses of action.

The survey was conducted by the Johns Hopkins University, in conjunction with an association caring for the children - the Myboboh Club.

SOURCE: IRIN Africa English reports, 13 March 2002