Fewer Than 20% of Young People in Quintana Roo Use Condoms, Advocacy Group Warns

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Fewer than 20 percent of young people in Quintana Roo use condoms during sex, according to estimates from the Cancún Diversity Coalition (Codiscun), which warned that a lack of information and guidance is exposing adolescents to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

Juan Carlos Peñaloza, the group’s president, said ever-earlier sexual debuts, family taboos and poor communication at home are obstacles to strengthening prevention among teenagers and young adults.

Codiscun said it has identified about 900 cases linked to HIV and sexually transmitted infections, of which between 90 and 180 involved young people aged 16 and older.

Leonel Polanco, the coalition’s youth representative, said many adolescents begin exploring their sexuality without enough information about the risks or about how to protect themselves.

Parents divided on school sex education

Eight in 10 parents allow their children to receive sex education in schools, while two in 10 still believe the topic is not appropriate for children their age, the organization said. Codiscun estimates that six in 10 middle school students receive some prior knowledge about sexuality from their own parents.

The group said it distributed about 26,000 condoms this year and ran prevention days at middle schools, talks for parents, health fairs and psychological support sessions.

Outreach teams also advise on rapid HIV tests, explain results and hand out male and female condoms. They provide menstrual hygiene supplies and emergency contraception, which is kept in the safekeeping of school authorities.

Codiscun also warned of an increase in syphilis among the cases it has identified, without giving figures, and stressed the need to step up prevention so that misinformation circulating on social media does not shape adolescents’ decisions.

Festival Prisma and a walk for life

The organization will hold its Prisma Festival on Nov. 27 and present the Codiscun awards on Nov. 29, the same day as the second Walk for Life, which will set off from Malecón Tajamar toward Parque de las Palapas.