Ashley was born with AIDS.Now 16, Ashley is one of the more than 2 million youth worldwide between 10 and 19 who are currently living with HIV. Although the global rate of infection among youth is actually declining, that’s not the case at home. Statistics from the Public Health Agency of Canada show Canadian youth HIV infections have been slowly rising since 1999. The prime culprit, according to the PHAC, is risky sexual behaviour resulting largely from ignorance about HIV and AIDS. What’s more, young people like Ashley that live with HIV and AIDS still find themselves facing stigma and stereotypes because of the myths and misinformation surrounding this illness.
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