7th International AIDS Conference Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:444 (abstract no. W.D.4224)
Daily L, Holtzman D, Greene B, Ingraham G, Kolbe L; Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, USA

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which HIV education policies and practices are required by school districts in the United States.

METHODS: A national probability sample of U.S. public school districts was surveyed by mail in April and May 1990. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed for the percent of districts with educational policies and practices to prevent HIV infection among school-aged youth.

RESULTS: Of 2,159 school districts selected, 78.1% responded. HIV education was required by 66.9% (95% CI=62.1, 71.7) of districts. Of those that reported requirements, the percentage requiring HIV education by grade level increased from 29.7% in kindergarten to 82.3% in 7th grade, then declined to 37.3% by 12th grade. Most often, districts required that skills to avoid sexual intercourse and needle sharing be taught in grades 7-12, and skills to use condoms in grades 9-12. High, moderate, and low parental support for HIV education were reported by 36.2%, 42.2%, and 10.7% of districts, respectively. For all districts, HIV education for school district personnel was most often provided to teachers with 65.5% of districts reporting recent teacher training.

CONCLUSION: Although two-thirds of the nation's school districts require HIV education, the requirements are not uniform at every grade level. Of particular concern is the linear decline in requirements from 7th to 12th grade; when students are most likely to engage in risk behaviors, the likelihood of HIV education is at its lowest. It is important to note, however, that districts without HIV education requirements are primarily those which serve a small proportion of the nation's students.

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