High School Students and Aids
California high school students--half of whom are sexually active--want AIDS information taught to them in class, and most get some instruction, according to the latest state Youth Risk Behavior Survey. But despite knowing the importance of safe sex, the majority of the sexually active students fail to lessen the risks. Figures are from the 1989-90 school year.
Sexual Behavior Among High School Students
Students Who Have Had Sex: Yes: 50.5% No: 49.5% Percentage Who Have Had Sex During: Ninth Grade: 34% 10th Grade: 41% 11th Grade: 54% 12th Grade: 67%
Getting information about AIDS
Not Yes No Sure Should students your age be taught about AIDS in school? 94% 2% 4% Have you ever been taught in school about AIDS? 73% 21% 6% Do you know where to get good information about AIDS? 62% 24% 14% Have you talked about AIDS with adults in your family? 65% 35% N/A
They Know Better
Most sexually active high school students don’t use condoms for protection against AIDS, despite clearly understanding the ways to reduce sexual transmission of the disease.
Birth Control Used During Last Sexual Encounter: Condoms: 35% No method: 29% Birth control pills: 18% Withdrawal: 13% Other methods/not sure: 5%
Number of Sexual Partners in Lifetime: 1 person: 34% 2 persons: 18% 3 persons: 12% 4 persons or more: 36%
Can you reduce AIDS transmission by:
Not Yes No Sure Using condoms 92% 3% 5% Abstinence 87% 5% 8% Not having sex with IV drug users 87% 6% 7% Using birth control pills 4% 82% 13%
AIDS Fact vs. Fiction
High percentages of high school students know how not to get AIDS while having sex, but when it comes to unproven methods of transmission, they aren’t as knowledgeable.
Can you get AIDS by:
Not No Yes Sure Donating blood? 54% 36% 10% A mosquito or other insect bites? 60% 14% 26% A blood test? 68% 16% 16% Public toilets? 79% 6% 15% Being in class with an AIDS-infected student? 91% 3% 7% Would you be willing to be in class with one? 15% 56% 29%
About the Survey: The 1989-90 Youth Risk Behavior Survey is the third and latest one conducted by the State Department of Education with funds from the Centers for Disease Control. It was created to determine students’ knowledge about AIDS and HIV infection. Schools were randomly selected to participate in the survey. Students from 60 California schools answered the questions. Some categories may not total 100%, due to rounding.
Source: California Department of Education
