Brazil’s government aims AIDS education at gay teens

September 11, 2004

The RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — A new AIDS education program announced by the Brazilian government for the first time targets gay teens, according to media reports. Officials made the announcement at the Brazilian AIDS Congress, which includes 4,000 health leaders from 17 countries, news outlets reported. A radio program with interviews on adolescent sexuality is the primary medium for the effort, according to news reports. Officials want to heighten awareness about the use of condoms among young people just beginning to be sexually active, media reports indicate. Brazilian Health Minister Humberto Costa told reporters, “There is nothing more important or relevant than getting through to adolescent homosexuals who find it difficult to deal with the question of prevention at home and in school.” In a country with one of the highest HIV/AIDS rates in the region, the government reported that 6,566 cases occurred among youth ages 13 to 19 last year