AIDS Education: Gaps in Coverage Still Exist.

Overview & Synopsis

This document presents testimony given before the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs concerning a General Accounting Office (GAO) review of education programs for youth designed to limit the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It notes that most American teenagers have received essential information on the causes of AIDS and how to minimize the risks of becoming infected with HIV. Nonetheless, the GAO investigation revealed gaps in the provision of AIDS education, and those gaps are discussed in this report. These findings from the GAO review of the school-based HIV education program nationwide are presented: (1) two-thirds of the nation's school districts offered HIV education; (2) smaller districts were less likely to provide HIV education; (3) HIV education was not provided at all levels, particularly in the upper grades, where the likelihood of sexual activity was greatest; (4) essential planning and monitoring data on students' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors were inadequate; and (5) teacher training was often insufficient or lacking. Other findings presented are from the GAO review of education programs targeted at high-risk, out-of- school youth. From this review, it is concluded that the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) Division of Adolescent and School Health has been slow to address HIV education needs; that the Division has primarily funded education agencies and the resulting out-of-school activities have been limited; and that the Division plans a new initiative to fund health departments to reach out-of-school youth that potentially duplicates another CDC Center's approach. (NB)