Research Shows HIV/AIDS Awareness Increasing Among Youth

A recent study published in BMC Public Health has found that HIV prevention awareness is significantly higher among young people aged 15–24 in a rural district of Uganda. The research revealed that higher education levels strongly correlated with increased knowledge of HIV prevention methods, and both age and gender also shaped youths’ awareness and prevention preferences.Similarly, in Kisumu East, Kenya, a survey of 404 females aged 15–24 found that HIV knowledge is improving among young women, influencing how they use prevention practices. According to the study, participants with better HIV education were more likely to use condoms, test for HIV, and access preventive services.Further supporting this trend, a study of informal settlement youth in Kenya (aged 18–22) showed modest awareness of oral HIV self-testing kits, with just 19% reporting having heard of them — but notably, 75% expressed willingness to use the kits in the future. This suggests greater openness and readiness among youth to adopt new testing methods.
On a broader scale, the UNAIDS 2025 Global AIDS Update reports that new HIV infections are falling faster among 15–24 year-olds in several African countries, attributing the decline in part to stronger prevention education and youth-friendly services.