Trinidad and Tobago UNAIDS YOUTH DATA SHEET

Trinidad and Tobago UNAIDS YOUTH DATA SHEET

In order to address the value and vulnerability of young people, we must clearly understand their realities. The UNAIDS Caribbean Youth Data Sheets are launch-pads for this. They offer snapshots of the big picture how a range of social, economic, sexual and reproductive issues intersect. Drawing upon censuses and behavioural studies, the sheets offer country-specific summaries of the latest available findings about youth. They are living documents, accommodating new data as they become available. To share with UNAIDS new and/or additional data relevant to youth in your country, click here. The initiative distils key messages for meaningful youth advocacy. It is a starting point for grasping the legislative, policy and social changes needed to help young people in the Caribbean lead safer, healthier and more productive lives. YOUTH POPULATION 1 in 3 Trinidadians are under age 24 1 in 10 Trinidadians is a teenager QUICK FACTS The under 24 population has reduced over the last 3 decades YEAR TOTAL <24 0-4 5-9 10-14 1980 1,079,791 616,017 (57%) 121,064 (11%) 133,833 (12%) 112,473 (10%) 1990 1,213,733 624,639 (51%) 127,438 (10%) 114,379 (9%) 104,107 (9%) 2000 1,262,366 570,394 (45%) 129,404 (10%) 138,477 (11%) 111,980 (9%) 2011 1,328,019 486,032 (37%) 87,963 (7%) 98,378 (7%) 114,240 (9%) SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR 1 in 3 teenagers aged 13-15 is sexually active The 2007 KAPB on HIV for Trinidad and Tobago found that 30% of respondents in the 15-19 age group and 74% of 20-24 year olds, had engaged in sexual intercourse According to the 2008 MICS 3 in Trinidad and Tobago, 17% of women aged 15-19 years had sex before age 15 and 30% of women aged 20-24 had sex before the age of 18 years. The 2011 Trinidad and Tobago Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) reported 27% of students have engaged in sexual intercourse. The gender breakdown was 35% males and 20% females. It also reported that 62% of the students who ever had sexual intercourse did so before age 14 years. 1 in 2 of sexually active young teenagers aged 13-15 does not use condoms Results from the 2011 GSHS show that among the students who ever had sexual intercourse, 56% used a condom the last time they had sexual intercourse The 2007 KAPB on HIV in Trinidad and Tobago reported, 40% of the young people using a condom the last time they had sex with a casual partner. The 2008 MICS 3 survey of Trinidad and Tobago reported a 51% condom usage among young women. UNAIDS YOUTH DATA SHEETS Trinidad and Tobago pg. 2

Are they having sex? 60% 56% Do they use condoms? 50% 51% Have more than one partner? 40% 40% 32% 30% 27% 20% 14% 17% 17% 10% 3% 0% Baseline survey of KAP on HIV - Trinidad and Tobago 2007 (15-24 years) MICS Survey 3 -Trinidad & Tobago 2008 (15-24 years Females only) Global School-based Student Health Survey (13-15 years) Figure 1: Sexual behaviour in young Trinidadians 1 in 7 sexually-active teenagers aged 13 to 15 has had 2 or more sexual partners Results from the 2007 GSHS showed that 17% of the students that reported ever having sexual intercourse, had sex with two or more people during their life. According to 2007 KAPB report, 14% of respondents had more than one sexual partner. According to the 2008 MICS 3, 3% of the young women respondents who had sex in the last 12 months reported having multiple casual sexual partners. UNAIDS YOUTH DATA SHEETS Trinidad and Tobago pg. 3

YOUNG PEOPLE & HIV 1 in 4 of HIV cases in Trinidad and Tobago to-date has been to an under 24 year old 1 in 3 Trinidadians aged 15-24 has misconceptions about HIV and doesn t know ways to prevent HIV 1 in 3 Trinidadians aged 15-24 years doesn t know where to get an HIV test According to the Trinidad and Tobago GARP report of 2012 there were 22,878 cumulative reported PLHIV at the end of 2010 since 1983, of these 6500 have been young people with 3,500 young people currently living with HIV/Aids in Trinidad and Tobago. Approximately 1.3% of young people aged 15-24 years are living with HIV in Trinidad and Tobago. According to preliminary results of the 2011 MICS Survey of Trinidad and Tobago 63% of young men and men correctly identified way so preventing HIV and rejected major misconceptions about HIV. The 2008 KAPB survey states that approximately 60% of young people knew a place where to get an HIV test, however of those who knew a place to have an HIV test only 8% (15-19 year) and 30% (20-24 year olds) had taken the test. Further to this of those who took the test, only 50% took a voluntary test. TEEN MOTHERHOOD 100% 80% 60% Non teen Births Teen Births Figure 2: HIV Cumulative cases by age group: 1983 2010 23% 8% 11% 11% 30% Source: GARP Report, Trinidad and Tobago 17% 1 in 8 live births is to a teenage mother 1 in 6 of mothers under 20 has had a second or third child by age 19 0-14 years 15-24 years 25-24 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55+ years 40% 20% 0% 12% 12% 12% 13% 2005 2006 2008 2011 The 2007 KAPB on HIV for Trinidad and Tobago found that As illustrated in Figure 3 births to teenage mothers increased from 2,023 in 2005 to 2,727 in 2011. However the proportion of teen births to total live births has been consistent during this period, showing that the situation has not changed (11.5% in 2005 to 12.85% in 2011). Figure 3: Proportion of teen births to total live births: 2006 2011 UNAIDS YOUTH DATA SHEETS Trinidad and Tobago pg. 4

1 in 8 teenage births is of either a 2nd, 3rd or 4th child There were approximately 18,141 live births in Trinidad and Tobago in 2011. Of these, 2,727 were to teenage mothers. 360 of these births by teenage mothers were of either a second, third or fourth child. Figure 4: 2011 Trinidad and Tobago Teenage Births Parity 34 3 1st Child 323 2nd Child 2367 Source: The Central Statistics Office, Trinidad and Tobago In Trinidad and Tobago the minimum age for marriage is 12 years for Muslims, 14 years for Hindus, 16 years with parental consent and 18 years without parental consent TEEN MARRIAGE Figure 5: Marital Status of teenagers in Trinidad and Tobago 2011 450 400 350 Married Widowed Legally Separated 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 14 years 15 years 16 years 17 years 18 years 19 years Source: Central Statistics Office, Trinidad and Tobago, 2011 Data from the Trinidad and Tobago Central Statistics Office shows that in 2011, there were 1033 teen marriages, 26 widowed, 15 legally separated and 19 divorced before the age of 20. According to the 2008 MICS 3 Trinidad and Tobago survey of the 4,600 young women respondents approximately 800 aged 15-19 years were in union or a marriage. UNAIDS YOUTH DATA SHEETS Trinidad and Tobago pg. 5

THE LEGAL AGE FOR... HIV & THE LAW Clause 2 of the Offenses Against the Person Bill 2004 states that it is an indictable offence if a person who knows, or ought reasonably to know, he is HIV positive does not so inform another person and engages in conduct, including intimate conduct, with that person ABORTION & THE LAW Abortion in Trinidad and Tobago is currently illegal except in case of threat to the life or health of the pregnant woman. Every woman, being with child, who, with intent to procure her own miscarriage, unlawfully administers to herself any poison or other noxious thing, or unlawfully uses any instrument or other means whatsoever with the like intent, and any person who, with intent to procure the miscarriage of any woman, whether she is or is not with child, unlawfully administers to her or causes to be taken by her any poison or other noxious thing, or unlawfully uses any instrument or other means whatsoever with the like intent, is liable to imprisonment for four years. Compulsory Education 12 YEARS Criminal Responsibility 7 YEARS Age of Sexual Consent Minimum Age for Marriage 16 YEARS Medical Consent Public Sector Employmen Age of Suffrage Minimum Legal Driving Age 18 YEARS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Sources: Age of Majority and The Employment of Children (Prohibition) Act (chap. 90:05) The Trinidad and Tobago MICS 3 Survey indicated that 10% of 15-19 year old females believed it was justified for husbands to beat their wives if they went out without telling him, neglected the children, argued with him, burned food and denied him sex. The same report indicated that 8% of 20-24 year old women thought this kind of domestic violence was justified in the above mentioned categories. UNAIDS YOUTH DATA SHEETS Trinidad and Tobago pg. 6

UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team United Nations House, 3A Chancery Lane P.O Box 812 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Tel: +1 868 625 4922 Fax: +1 868 623 8516 www.unaids.org www.unaidscaribbean.org facebook.com/unaidscaribbean twitter.com/unaidscaribbean