HIV and Other STD Prevention and United States Students
 
What is the problem?
  The 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among U.S. high school students: 

For Sexual Risk Behaviors 
  47% ever had sexual intercourse.  
  6% had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13 years. 
  15% had sexual intercourse with four or more persons during their life. 
  34% had sexual intercourse with at least one person during the 3 months before the survey. 
  40% did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse among students who were currently sexually active.
  16% were never taught in school about AIDS or HIV infection. 
 
For Alcohol and Other Drug Use 
  22% drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse among students who were currently sexually active.
  2% used a needle to inject any illegal drug into their body one or more times during their life.
 
What are the solutions?
  Better health education
  More comprehensive health services
  More supportive policies
 
What is the status?
  The School Health Policies and Programs Study 2006 indicates that among U.S. high schools:
 
In Health Education 
  69% required students to receive instruction on health topics as part of a specific course.
  28% taught 11 key pregnancy, HIV, or other STD prevention topics in a required health education course. 
  87% taught abstinence as the most effective method to avoid pregnancy, HIV, and other STDs in a required health education course. 
  85% taught how HIV is transmitted in a required health education course.
  39% taught how to correctly use a condom in a required health education course. 
  76% taught how to find valid information or services related to HIV or HIV testing in a 
required health education course.

In Health Services 
  45% provided HIV counseling, testing, and referral services at school.  
  53% provided HIV prevention services at school in one-on-one or small-group sessions.  
  5% made condoms available at school. 
  24% provided services for gay, lesbian, or bisexual students. 

In Supportive Policies 
  54% had adopted a policy stating that students who had HIV infection or AIDS were allowed to attend classes as long as they were able. 
  45% had adopted a policy stating that teachers and staff who had HIV infection or AIDS were allowed to continue working as long as they were able.


Where can I get more information?   
Visit www.cdc.gov/yrbss or call 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636). 
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention 
Division of Adolescent and School Health