Adolescents and young people aged 10-24 from vulnerable and higher risk groups in Armenia have insufficient levels of knowledge to protect themselves against the spread of HIV infection, according to a new study. The assessment conducted by a multi-disciplinary team with support from the National Centre for AIDS Prevention, UNICEF and UNAIDS provides valuable data on HIV and AIDS-related knowledge levels and the vulnerability and needs of adolescents and young people from groups at higher risk such as children who are deprived of parental care, children in conflict with the law, injecting drug users, other drug users, commercial sex workers and men who have sex with men.

“This assessment is important because it provides evidence that those most at risk of contracting the disease have only limited knowledge of their own vulnerability and what actions they need to take to reduce their risk of contracting the disease,” UNICEF Representative Sheldon Yett said in his opening remarks at the launch of the study. This assessment makes clear that communications campaigns and other activities targeting those at highest risk of contracting the disease are essential to check the spread of HIV and AIDS in this country.”