FOR the past eight years, statistics from the Health Ministry on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) show Fijians in the age group 20-29-years are the most affected.
And as for gender, gonorrhoea has been seen mainly in males whereas for the past five years, syphilis has been increasingly seen in females, said director of public health Dr Josaia Samuela.
Gonorrhoea and syphilis are the major reported cases of STIs.
Dr Samuela warned if people with sexually transmitted infections like syphilis, which has ulcer like symptoms, are not treated they increased the chance of contracting HIV.
1024 Fijians were treated for gonorrhoea last year, an increase of 416 from 2006, the highest number for the past five years. There were also 238 Indians treated for gonorrhoea last year compared to 193 in 2006.
Concerning cases of gonorrhoea by gender, males increased by 460 last year from 698 in 2006 while there were 180 females last year compared to 133 in 2006. Of cases reported last year 814 were in the age group 20-29-years, 198 between 10 to 19 years and 42 between 40-49.
The ministry recorded 940 Fijians treated for syphilis compared to 567 in 2006 and 139 Indians last year, an increase of 75.
On gender, there were 686 males last year compared to 447 in 2006 and 437 females to 206 in 2006 that contracted syphilis. 700 of these people were between 20 and 29 years of age.
Last year the ministry recorded 1338 cases of gonorrhoea and 1123 of syphilis.
He said these figures were very alarming and of concern for many reasons.
"These are very high rates for Fiji's population. It highlights the underlying concern of unsafe sexual behaviour among young people. This is the same high-risk behaviour for the transmission of HIV.
"The most affected are in the productive times of their lives, could be studying in tertiary institutions, or earning money through employment." Dr Samuela said it was not only a health concern but a social and economic issue.
"Sexual behaviour is very complex and it becomes a health issue in terms of treatment, follow up of partners or contacts for treatment and care. These involve costs, resources, testing equipment and facilities, drugs for treatment," he said.
Dr Samuela said all sectors of society must play their role.
"The family should be the basic social institution to inculcate values and this is where parents play their God-given role.
"Unfortunately, in today's society, the family is not fulfiling that role for many reasons because of break-ups, divorce, single parent, absentee parents and poor parental examples.
"In Fiji we pride ourselves in that every family has a religious affiliation.
"However, the question we need to ask is whether religion is playing its role in helping parents to fulfill their responsibilities?
"I see religion playing a more important and influential role here than any government department."
Dr Samuela said the ministry had a limited role in terms of addressing the problem of STIs.
He said it involved stakeholders but the primary responsibility was with parents, adolescents and young people.
"As has been emphasised many times, sex is serious business.
"Anyone, especially young people, who participates does so at their risk, in view of the sad consequences of infection from so many STIs including HIV, pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility."
Dr Samuela said contributing factors range from peer pressure, substance abuse, distorted views of sex, the influence of the media and entertainment industry through television and movies and the internet.
