The HIV Epidemic and New York Students

What is the problem? The 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among New York high 
school students:

42% ever had sexual intercourse. 
6% had first sexual intercourse before age 13 years. 
13% had sexual intercourse with four or more people. 
29% had sexual intercourse during the past three months. 
29% did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse. (Footnote 1) 
19% drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse. (Footnote 1)

What are the solutions? Better health education and healthier school environments.

What is the status? The 2004 School Health Profiles indicates that among New York middle/junior and senior high schools:

Among schools that required health education, 54% required students to take two or more health education courses. 
51% of schools taught all 10 critical HIV prevention topics in a required health education 
course. 
98% taught abstinence as the most effective method to avoid HIV infection. 
98% taught how HIV is transmitted. 
59% taught how to correctly use a condom. 
92% taught how to find valid information or services related to HIV or HIV testing. 
50% of schools had a lead health education teacher who received staff development on HIV 
prevention during the past two years.

73% had a written policy that protects the rights of students or staff with HIV infection or 
AIDS. 
Among schools that had a written policy: 
98% of the policies addressed procedures to protect HIV-infected students and staff from 
discrimination. 
100% of the policies addressed maintenance of confidentiality for HIV-infected students and 
staff. 
91% of the policies addressed adequate training for school staff about HIV infection.


Footnotes: 
1. Among students who had sexual intercourse during the past three months. 

















Visit www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth or call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) for more information. 
Department of Health and Human Services 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention