DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Premature debut to casual and careless sex has come under blame for the spread of HIV/AIDS and sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) in the sub-Saharan Africa.

    Studies have found out that girls in rural areas in this region start sexual activities as early as eight years of age while boys begin at 12.

    The figure was revealed by Ibrahim Kabole, manager of the STD/HIV/AIDS multi-sectoral council planning tools project, at the African Medical and Research Foundation meeting held in Dar es Salaam.

    "The research further established the relationship between sexual debut and the increase on the transmission of venereal diseases," said Kabole who later described as impossible such corrective measures as open discussion in schools about sex and the use of condoms.

    For example, in Zambia, President Levy Mwanawasa has ruled out the distribution of condoms in school. He expressed the fear on Friday that distribution of condoms will promote instead of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

    There are now more than 40 million HIV-infected people in the world. Of the total, 26.6 million live in Africa and the lion's share of them, or 26 million people, live in sub-Saharan Africa.

    In Tanzania alone, some 140,000 people die annually from HIV/AIDS, out of 2.2 million people living with the virus. Enditem¡¡