AIDS in 13-24 Age Range Grows 62% in Two Years

Reported AIDS cases have grown by 62% among teen-agers and young adults in the past two years, and California now ranks second among states in such cases, according to a new congressional study.

The study, which called for increased federal prevention efforts, reported that the cumulative number of AIDS cases among Americans ages 13 to 24 had grown to 8,949 by the end of 1991. At the end of 1989, 5,524 cases had been reported, said the report by the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families.

In teen-age AIDS cases, California was No. 2 among states: Eighty California cases have been reported, compared with 103 in New York. With 31 cases, the Los Angeles area was second among metropolitan regions; the New York City area had 77.

The analysis--the first of its kind--showed that AIDS cases among teen-agers are disproportionately concentrated among minorities. Thirty-seven percent of teen-age AIDS cases are among black youths and 19% are among Latino youths, although blacks make up 15% of the total teen-age population, and Latinos 12%.

The study showed that heterosexual contact is the largest single source of AIDS among teen-age girls, accounting for 45% of the 212 reported cases. Heterosexual contact accounted for 2% of AIDS cases among teen-age boys, making it the third-largest source. Blood transfusions given to hemophiliacs accounted for 41% of cases; homosexual contact was second, accounting for 34% of cases.

The study found that federal efforts to combat AIDS among young Americans are “underfunded, uncoordinated and largely unsuccessful.”

The report estimated that federal agencies that fight AIDS spent $107 million last year, or 5% of the total AIDS-fighting budget, on teen-agers.

But the committee found it “virtually impossible to determine the extent or depth” of government AIDS efforts on behalf of teen-agers because of a lack of information from U.S. agencies. The Health Care Financing Agency, which administers Medicaid, for example, was unable to estimate what it spends on AIDS programs for adolescents, according to the study.

The study also found failings among local programs. It said only about 300 U.S. schools have comprehensive school health programs from kindergarten through the 12th grade, though many experts believe such programs are “the most promising strategy to reduce risky behavior and promote healthy decisions” by teen-agers.

The report made no recommendation on how to improve federal AIDS programs for teen-agers and young adults.

AIDS Cases

States with the highest number of AIDS cases among teen-agers and young adults:

Age Group 13-19 20-24 New York 103 1,272 California 80 1,116 Florida 86 874 Texas 57 760 New Jersey 46 429 Georgia 27 279 Illinois 31 257 Pennsylvania 37 246 Maryland 16 191 Louisiana 17 171

Source: Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families.