Kayunga kids forced into sex

May 06, 2008

CHILDREN in Kayunga district become sexually active as early as eight years of age, the district director of health services has said.

By Charles Jjuuko

CHILDREN in Kayunga district become sexually active as early as eight years of age, the district director of health services has said.

Dr. Edris Musisi noted that because of poverty, many parents force their young daughters into illegal unions with older men with the hope that the men would provide them with basic needs in life and other luxuries which they (parents) cannot afford.

The health services chief was last week speaking during the annual AIDS partnership forum workshop at the district headquarters in Ntenjeru,

He urged parents to educate the children on the dangers of premarital sex.

According to Musisi, a recent study conducted by the health department indicated that 39% of children below 17 years in the district had had sex while 52% of married had sex with non-regular partners

“Only 6% of married people are faithful to their partners and 42% of married women had sex outside marriage,” Musisi added.

“This has made the AIDS prevalence to increase to 6.5% of the population and this means 21,270 people live with HIV/AIDS.”

Kayunga, he pointed out, has 25,000 AIDS orphans while the number of widows is about 6,000.

The resident district commissioner, Margaret Baryehuki, who closed the seminar, advised parents to instill moral values in their children.

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