MEXICO CITY, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Lack of sexual knowledge is the main culprit for HIV/AIDS among Latin American youths, said Chilean expert Raquel Child on Sunday, who also blamed the authorities for not doing enough to help youngsters deal with the deadly disease.

    Child, a specialist with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on HIV/AIDS prevention, said in a press release that "the adult world has not been able to recognize the sexual culture of the youths" which is very different from theirs.

    Latin American nations have fallen behind in the development of a system to advise young people to have preventive behaviors.

    Child is one of the more than 20,000 specialists on the HIV/AIDS due to attend the 17th International Conference on AIDS scheduled for Aug. 3-8 in Mexico City.

    She said that prevention is one of the more effective measures against the spread of HIV/AIDS. She urged to reform the system of related educational programs, noting that "school is the central element".