The Macao AIDS Care Association (MAC) organised a seminar on sexual education and HIV prevention on November 25.
During the seminar, the association released their research findings related to the impact of mobile dating apps on intimate relationships among Macau university students, according to a statement made by the association last week.
The research was conducted from February to July of this year in response to the recent occurrence of sexual deception cases related to mobile apps and the lack of data on teenagers’ use of dating apps in Macau, the statement said, adding that the study surveyed 36 university students aged between 18 and 26 years, who were studying in local higher education institutions and had experience using dating apps.
The statement noted that the findings of the research indicated that almost all the participants began using dating apps during their underage years and while attending secondary school. The statement said that some students reported experiencing offensive and sexually related language attacks, and a few even encountered unpleasant incidents when meeting individuals they had connected with through dating apps overseas.
The statement underlined that the research findings aim to assist the association in adjusting its focus and direction of future sexual education efforts for adolescents. It pointed out that AIDS is a complex social issue and that sharing the work experiences of professionals from different fields helps strengthen communication and cooperation in advancing the popularisation and educational work on sexual health for adolescents.
According to the statement, the characteristics of HIV infections in Macau have shifted from primarily being caused by the injection of drugs to mainly being sexually transmitted infections. The statement added that among sexually transmitted infections, same-sex infections have surpassed heterosexual infections, and newly acquired infections are closely linked to risky sexual behaviour.
Last week’s statement further raised concerns regarding the vulnerability of adolescents to sexual risks, primarily due to their limited sexual experience. It underscores the importance of strengthening sexual education efforts aimed at teenagers, which are crucial for safeguarding the well-being of adolescences and equipping them with the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions about their sexual health.
The statement did not reveal the survey’s specific findings in percentage points.
This handout photo provided by The Macao AIDS Care Association (MAC) shows a speaker addressing the seminar on November 25.
