Of the 33 million people living with HIV, about a quarter or 8 million, are young adults. An estimated 5,000 young people contract the virus every day. DHS surveys have collected extensive information about youth and their sexual behavior in more than 50 countries.
DHS interviewers ask young adults a variety of questions about their reproductive health, including their age at sexual debut, their contraceptive use, and their history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Early sexual activity exposes young women and men to diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea, which in turn make them more vulnerable to HIV.