CHANGES IN HIV-RELATED INFORMATION-SOURCES, INSTRUCTION, KNOWLEDGE, AND BEHAVIORS AMONG US HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS, 1989 AND 1990

Objectives. Few data have been available among adolescents to determin e behavioral changes that may prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HI V) infection. This analysis examines changes in the prevalence of self -reported HIV-related information sources, instruction, knowledge, and behaviors among high school students in the United States. Methods. T wo independent, multistage national probability samples of students in grades 9 through 12 were surveyed in 1989 (n = 8098) and 1990 (n = 11 631) with self-administered, anonymous questionnaires that included s imilar items. Results, Compared with students surveyed in 1989, a sign ificantly greater proportion of students surveyed in 1990 had received HIV instruction in school. Significant decreases were found in the pr oportion of White and female students who reported having had sexual i ntercourse, in the proportion of White students reporting two or more lifetime sex partners, and in the proportion of 15- and 16-year-olds, White students, and female students who reported having had four or mo re lifetime sex partners. For both years, students who had a greater l evel of HIV knowledge were less likely to have had multiple lifetime s ex partners or to have injected illicit drugs. Conclusions. The findin gs suggest that school-based HIV education and knowledge may be contri buting factors in reducing certain risk behaviors that can lead to HIV transmission among secondary school youth.