State wants young people to turn tables on sex talk

Written by Blake McSharry on September 26, 2011 – 3:27 am

As if the thought of having the talk wasnt uncomfortable enough, the Florida Department of Health is encouraging young people to talk about sex with the older folks in their lives.

State officials hope the recommendation will have an effect beyond creating an awkward exchange: preventing the spread of HIV among older Floridians.

Florida along with the rest of the country is experiencing a graying of HIV and AIDS. In 2009, nearly a fifth of all new HIV cases in the state were in people over 50 more than half of whom lived in South Florida. By 2015, projections put the majority of all people with HIV and AIDS over 50.

The aging of HIV and AIDS is partially because people are living longer with medications. Its also because theyre staying sexually active longer.

For many people, when we discuss this at senior complexes or groups, no ones ever had this discussion with them, said Evelyn Ullah, the STD, HIV and AIDS prevention director with the Broward County Health Department. As a result, said Ullah, they dont perceive themselves at risk.

Ullah and other health experts say young people, new to the dating scene, are in a unique position to initiate conversations about condoms and HIV testing with older family members and friends.

Its gonna be embarrassing, acknowledged Marlene LaLota, HIV prevention director for the state. LaLota recommends starting the conversation by comparing notes on dating and concerns. If thats too hard, leaving literature out on the table can spark a conversation.

Anything that gets the ball rolling, said LaLota. Remember, the roles were reversed once upon a time where it was the mother having the conversation with the daughter 30 or 40 years ago.

Sammy Mack is a reporter with HealthyState.org and WLRN.

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