SCHOOL-BASED AIDS EDUCATION FOR ADOLESCENTS

Purpose: To describe a program which utilizes medical students and per sons with AIDS (PWAs) to provide for adolescents school-based educatio n about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Methods: Two 1.5 ho ur classroom sessions were conducted by medical students and persons w ith AIDS for seventh and eighth grade students (n = 1,161 students) at two urban middle schools. In addition, a two hour informational sessi on was provided for parents. A 49 question student health survey was u sed to evaluate adolescents' HIV knowledge, tolerance of persons with AIDS, and intentions to engage in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) s afe behaviors. Results: Significant (p < 0.01) increases in HIV knowle dge and tolerance of persons with AIDS were observed, which persisted for three months. A significant (p < 0.01) improvement in intention to engage in HIV-safe behaviors was observed but did not persist for thr ee months. Conclusions: Medical students and persons with AIDS can pro vide school-based AIDS education to early adolescents.