The number of patients ages 10-19 who sought medical attention for STDs more than doubled -- from 256 to 678 -- between 2001 and 2005, according to a report in the Straits Times newspaper. This age group's proportion of all such diseases rose from 3.8 percent in 2001 to 6.1 percent in 2005. Between 1985 and 2004, 18 teens were diagnosed with HIV. In 2005, four males ages 17-19 became infected after sex with other males. Counselors who work with teens say the youths are having sex earlier and are having unprotected sex with multiple partners. While officials have voiced alarm over the trends, the government continues to reject widespread condom promotion and blames the problem partly on the gay community.

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