by Skripak, Danielle - Summerfield, Liane
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) indicates that young people are at risk of a number of serious health problems, including sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. The most recent YRBSS survey of high school students (Kann et al., 1996) reported that 53% have had sexual intercourse and 38% are currently sexually active (defined as having had intercourse during the preceding 3 months). Slightly over half of adolescents reported using a condom during last sexual intercourse, with African American students significantly more likely than Hispanic or white teens to report condom use at last intercourse. Given the relationship between drug use and impaired judgment, it is alarming that more than half of students reported recent alcohol use, and one-fourth reported recent marijuana use.
Experts agree that prevention through education is the best way to fight the transmission of human immundeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, and that education must begin before young people initiate sexual activity and certainly no later than seventh grade (Black & Jones, 1988; Kirby, Barth, Leland, & Fetro, 1991; White & Ballard, 1993). Because school attendance is a nearly universal experience for American children and youth, schools offer an accessible and appropriate setting for HIV/AIDS education. Unfortunately, the capacity of teachers to provide instruction about AIDS and other related health problems with knowledge and comfort may be limited by a lack of preservice education.
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