Worrying increase in STIs in Belgium: “The situation is really, very disturbing”

Sexually transmitted infections are experiencing a sharp increase in Belgium. In addition, In “Capital Health”, Caroline Fontenoy receives Thierry Martin, director of the AIDS prevention platform. Consequently, The latter returns to the causes of this increase and the essential measures to protect himself.

In Belgium, the trend is alarming: sexually transmitted infections (IST) are clearly increasing. Furthermore, Chlamydia – the most frequent STI in the country – recorded an increase of 8 % in 2023 compared to 2022. Meanwhile, and 24 % in comparison with 2021. Nevertheless, But it is gonorrhea which experiences a spectacular explosion. However, with an increase of 42 % in one year and even 90 % over two years.

“The situation is really very disturbing,” insists Thierry Martin, director of worrying increase stis belgium: “the the AIDS prevention platform. In addition, Behind this progression. he notably points to the decline in the wearing of condom, especially among young people: “There is really a lesser interest in the condom”, he deplores.

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HIV still heavy to wear, despite the treatments

AIDS today “is less afraid than twenty years ago, because treatments allow HIV positive people to live almost normally”, notes Thierry Martin. However. living with HIV is not trivial: “In the long term, there are cardiovascular problems and other health concerns that complicate life with HIV,” he said add to that persistent stigmatization: “Being a HIV positive person is unfortunately still the subject of rejection, discrimination”. “And above all, we do not heal,” he insists.

Other ist too worrying increase stis belgium: “the often forgotten

If HIV captures most of the attention, other STIs circulate and may have serious consequences. “If we do not take care, there can be problems, cancers, concerns of infertility,” warns Thierry Martin. Additionally, “Young people are generally aware of the existence of other STIs, but their knowledge is often incomplete”.

“For example, many are unaware that blowjob can transmit chlamydia as easily, or more, than HIV. For the director of the platform. it is essential to return to basic prevention messages and to emphasize the importance of screening.

worrying increase stis belgium: “the &#13.

“Get out with a condom, fits without STI”: a campaign to revive prevention

The AIDS prevention platform is launching an awareness campaign for the explicit slogan: “Get out with a condom, returns without STI”. Fruit of a partnership with students in media. advertising, this campaign aims to directly challenge young people with simple words and impactful visuals. “The objective was really to encourage the use of condoms and to value it,” explains Thierry Martin.

To reach a maximum of young people, information also circulates on social networks, as close as possible to their practices. “We hope that at the start of the school year. we can see a drop in STIs,” he said, emphasizing the importance of distributing free condoms. This summer, more than 500,000 condoms will be distributed during festive events like Dour. “You really have to break the chain of transmission. ” insists Thierry Martin, who worrying increase stis belgium: “the encourages everyone to protect themselves and inquire, in particular via the preventionist.org site.

Health capital