AIDS RISK AMONG STUDENTS ATTENDING SEVENTH-DAY-ADVENTIST SCHOOLS IN NORTH-AMERICA

In 1995, a survey was conducted among students attending 69 Seventh-da y Adventist (SDA) high schools within the United States and Canada. Th e survey assessed the extent that these students practiced sexual and drug-use behaviors which place them at risk for contracting or transmi tting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A total of 1,748 respond ents enrolled in grades 9 through 12 completed questionnaires similar to the instrument used in the 1993 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Data were collected and compared to results from the 1993 YRBS. Studen ts who attended SDA parochial schools reported lower rates of sexual i ntercourse compared to YRBS school counterparts (16.3% vs. 53.1%) and lower rates of all substances measured. Furthermore, respondents, were more likely to engage in substance use and sexual intercourse if they had at least one parent who used tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana, as r eported by the students.