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Adolescents now accounting for less than 1% of diagnosed AIDS cases in the U.S. may need more intensive health intervention to prevent infection. Since HIV infection is not apparent without testing rates of sexual activity teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases are indicators of risk. Data indicate that sexual initiation is occurring earlier numbers of partners are increasing a girls risk of pregnancy by age 20 is 40% and STDs are the most common communicable diseases facing adolescents. Surveys from San Francisco in 1987 found that teens knew that sexual intercourse is the primary route of HIV transmission but only 60% knew that condoms reduce the risk. Few U.S. schools have AIDS education in their formal curriculum and even fewer do evaluations. Standardized AIDS education in schools should be mandatory in intermediate and secondary school; teacher training in knowledge attitudes and value assessment should be included; and results of programs should be evaluated. These education programs must involve students in decision-making resistance training coping strategies and options as well as providing knowledge and dispelling myths and fears. Even thou polls show that 88% of adolescents and 91% of parents favor mandatory HIV/AIDS education in schools the requirement of standardized testable curriculum is controversial. A core curriculum should be universal to provide teens with knowledge they may need if they leave their locale and culture.
Ralph J. DiClemente (Wed,) studied this question.
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