HIV/Aids Africa

Young people who migrate from rural areas to Windhoek or other urban areas
are likely to indulge in risky sexual behaviour, a study by the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA) and the University of Namibia (UNAM) found.The study,
?Youth Migration in Namibia: Baseline Report?, says migration has an influence
on the sexual and reproductive behaviour of young migrant people.The study which
was conducted over the past 12 months, shows that 86.1% of migrant youth
interviewed for purposes of research were involved in sexual activity, therefore
the migrant youth seems to display higher rates of sexual activity than the
general population.The mean age at first sexual intercourse for females is also
slightly higher than that of males at 18 years compared to 17 for males.A higher
percentage of male migrants (86.8%) than female migrants (69%) reported that
they had sexual partners in their previous place of residence. According to the
report this indicates that more males than females have casual partners.?Most of
the people that are migrating are young. They are found in the streets of
Windhoek and other urban centres looking for jobs and livelihoods. Many of them
are contributing to the HIV/AIDS pandemic that is gripping the country. Some are
engaged in activities that are not legal,? said Professor Lazarus Hangula, Vice
Chancellor at UNAM, at the launch of the report this week.He said the study is
timely in that understanding youth migration in Namibia will lead to the
implementation of relevant programmes targeting the needs of youth migrants as
well as formulation of policies addressing the needs of migrants in the
country.Another report, An Investigation and Assessment of Knowledge of
Menopause, Menopausal Symptoms And Issues Among Women And Men In Namibia, was
also launched at the same event.