Armenians Ashamed to Raise Issue of STDs

In recent years, the number of certain sexually transmitted diseases (STD) has increased in Armenia. Today, the dermatological and sexually transmitted disease medical center anonymous counseling and research service coordinator Hovhannes Hovhannisyan spoke to journalists about STD rises.

He noted that in reality, the number of STDs has not risen but rather the services which are able to detect them, which has resulted in an increase in registered diseases.

Hovhannisyan noted that the most vulnerable groups are sex workers and foreign migrant workers. STD transmission among prostitutes, according to the expert, forms 50%. As for migrant workers, transmission is much lower; however, it is often due to the fact that most incidents are simply not registered. “Migrant workers are usually middle-aged men who go abroad, mainly to Russia, without their wives. There they often have another family. Subsequently, they bring STDs to Armenia and transfer them to their wives,” said Hovhannisyan.

According to him, a large portion of women and men are ashamed to raise the issue and often go to a doctor in another city when it becomes necessary to treat the disease; “for example, they go from Spitak to Vanadzor and from Vanadzor to Spitak.”

Such issues are mainly dealt with in Yerevan and the fact that Yerevan has more registered incidents of STDs is artificially derived, meanwhile the highest numbers are from the Shirak and Gegharkunik provinces, because it is mainly those men who leave the country for work.

Hovhannisyan stressed the necessity of a proper Sexual Education class in educational institutions because the clear lack of knowledge in that field further deepens the issue.

He noted that there are Sexual Education classes in public schools, but “the execution is not high quality.” The school principal decides on the necessity of the class, while physical education teachers are often the ones teaching them because, according to many principals’, “they have authority” among students.” According to Hovhannisyan, specially trained experts should teach the class.