Despite the HIV/AIDS information campaigns conducted over the past few years, young adults still have misconceptions about the disease.

The 2002 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS 3) conducted by the UP Population Institute and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, Inc. revealed that while nearly all (95%) young adults have heard of HIV/AIDS, 73% believe there is no chance of them getting HIV/AIDS.

The percentage of young adults who think that AIDS is curable more than doubled between 1994 and 2002. In 1994, only 12.5% thought that there was a cure to HIV/AIDS. This increased to 28% in 2002.

More males than females are familiar with sexually-transmitted diseases (70% vs. 63%) although males are more likely to think that AIDS is curable (30% for males vs. 26% for females).

These misconceptions may prove to be risky considering the rise in adolescent sexual practices. Twenty-three percent of youth have engaged in premarital sex. A considerable number of sexually-active youth have had multiple partners, with almost half of the males (49%) and 11% of the females reporting more than one sex partner. One in five of the sexually-active males had paid for sex while 12% had accepted payment for sex. Prevalence of commercial sex is negligible among females, with less than one percent of the girls having paid or been paid for sex.

The adolescents' general feeling of invincibility also shows in their low level of contraceptive use. Only one-fifth of first sex experiences and one-fourth of most recent sexual experiences were protected. Among those who have engaged in commercial sex, only 31% used a condom.

A number of young adults also experienced reproductive health problems and symptoms. Nineteen percent of young females said they have experienced painful urination while 6% have had abnormal vaginal discharges. Three percent of males said they have had penile discharges, 23% have had painful urination, and 3% have had warts or ulcers in their penis.

Notwithstanding the presence of these reproductive health problems and symptoms, health care utilization remains low among the youth. Only 18% of young females and 21% of young males sought medical help for their reproductive health complaints.

These findings are contained in the book "Youth, Sex and Risk Behaviors in the Philippines" of the UP Population Institute and the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, Inc.