HIV/STD Prevention Interventions for Adolescents

Every year, millions of American adolescents are infected with STDs, including HIV. The personal, social, and economic consequences of adolescent STD infection are substantial. Fortunately, school-based, individually-focused, and community-level educational and sexual risk reduction interventions can help prevent the spread of STDs among adolescents. However, very little is known about the economic efficiency, or cost-effectiveness, of such programs. Because funding for HIV/STD prevention programs is limited, health departments and other decision makers need accurate information about the cost-effectiveness of various prevention programs to help them appropriately target spending. This study: (1) reviews the magnitude of the multiple STD epidemics among adolescents; (2) describes selected STD prevention interventions that have been shown to be effective at reducing adolescents' risk for contracting STDs; and (3) discusses the cost-effectiveness of these programs, using what is known about the economic efficiency of HIV/STD prevention programs for adults as a guideline, and taking into account factors unique to the adolescent population.