6TH AND 8TH GRADERS AND ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME - THE RESULTS OF FOCUS GROUP-ANALYSIS

Objective: To determine young adolescents' range of factual knowledge and beliefs about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immu nodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among those who have received AIDS educat ion. Design: Focus group analysis. Setting: Urban middle school. Parti cipants: Two male and two female groups consisting of 4-7 students eac h, ages 11-15 years. Results: The predominant responses in all four gr oups relating to factual knowledge of HIV transmission and mechanisms of prevention were correct. However, responses indicated that factual information had not been integrated into students' plans for situation s involving relationships and sexual activity. All four groups shared the image of AIDS as a disease of adults. The girls frequently gave re sponses which included discussion and use of condoms, whereas only a f ew boys could realistically visualize using condoms. Many students, pr edominately boys, identified with media figures such as Magic Johnson and saw themselves to be at risk for HIV, but the girls almost exclusi vely saw Magic Johnson as a rich, famous person and did not identify w ith him. Students gave suggestions about ways to improve AIDS educatio n and recommended that AIDS education begin in the early grades. Concl usion: Standard AIDS education may be effective in teaching factual in formation about AIDS, but it may have little effect on students' futur e behavior. The format of AIDS education may need to be modified to be tter address adolescents' beliefs and behaviors regarding HIV and AIDS .