SINGAPORE: Since 2000, the rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among those under age 20 has been “especially alarming”, in the 
words of Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan – doubling from 61 cases per 100,000 in that age group, to 133 in 2008.
Among those in their 20s and 30s, the rate jumped by two-thirds from 270 to 451 per 100,000.
Giving a written reply to MP Ellen Lee’s request for an update, Mr Khaw said that notifications of STIs other than HIV in the past three years have grown from about 11,000 in 2006 to 12,300 in 2008.
Singapore citizens accounted for about 62 per cent of the cases.
And 7 in 10 cases involved young adults: Among those under age 20, two-thirds were female, while the opposite was true for those over 20.
Mr Khaw said that his ministry has worked with several organisations on programmes to address the rising trend of STIs among youths.
For instance, the topic is on schools’ science syllabus and sexual education is mandatory.
The three main STIs are gonorrhoea, non-gonococcal urethritis and syphilis.
Source: Channel News Asia
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