HIV/AIDS Education in Teacher Preparation Programs. ERIC Digest.

Overview & Synopsis

Experts agree that prevention through education is the best way to fight the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency (AIDS). However, 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. This Digest highlights: (1) the extent of preservice HIV/AIDS education; (2) the need for comprehensive preservice HIV/AIDS education; (3) current efforts to include HIV/AIDS prevention education in preservice teacher education; and (4) HIV/AIDS resources for preservice teachers and teacher educators. The first section cites several studies that suggest a lack of HIV-specific training in preservice teacher education. Section two lists six factors related to HIV/AIDS that make preservice preparation critical. The third section provides examples of current efforts to incorporate HIV/AIDS prevention education into preservice teacher education programs. In addition to the resources for preservice teachers and teacher educators cited in the fourth section, information is provided on projects sponsored by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control that are being conducted by the American Association for Health Education and the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. (Contains 14 references.) (LL)