HIV and Other STD Prevention and United States Students

What is the problem?

The 2017 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that among U.S. high school students:

Sexual Risk Behaviors

• 39.5% ever had sexual intercourse.
• 3.4% had sexual intercourse for the first time before age 13 years.
• 9.7% had sexual intercourse with four or more persons during their life.
• 28.7% were currently sexually active. ¹
• 46.2% did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse. ²
• 9.3% were ever tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ³

Alcohol and Other Drug Use

• 18.8% drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse. ²
• 1.5% ever injected any illegal drug. ⁴

What are the solutions?

• Better health education
• More comprehensive health services
• More supportive environments

What is the status?

The School Health Policies and Practices Study 2014 indicates that among U.S. high schools:

Health Education

• 88% required students to receive instruction on health topics as part of a specific course.

As part of a required health education course:

• 75% taught how to prevent HIV infection.
• 76% taught how to prevent STDs.
• 65% taught how to find valid information or services related to HIV or HIV testing.
• 70% taught how to find valid information or services related to STDs or STD screening.
• 76% taught abstinence as the most effective method to avoid pregnancy, HIV, and other STDs.
• 35% taught how to correctly use a condom.
• 50% taught how to obtain condoms.
• 55% taught the importance of using a condom at the same time as another form of contraception to prevent both STDs and pregnancy.
• 76% taught the relationship between alcohol or other drug use and the risk for HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy.

Health Services

• 50% provided HIV or STD prevention services at school in one-on-one or small-group sessions.
• 7% made condoms available to students at school.
• 40% provided HIV counseling, testing, and referral services at school.
• 54% provided identification, treatment of, or referral for STDs at school.
• 16% provided identification, treatment of, or referral for STDs to students through arrangements with providers not located on school property.
• 3% provided the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to students at school.
• 35% provided services specifically for gay, lesbian, or bisexual students at school.

Supportive Environments

• 38% had a gay/straight alliance.

1. Had sexual intercourse with at least one person, during the 3 months before the survey.
2. Among students who were currently sexually active.
3. Not counting tests done if they donated blood.
4. Used a needle to inject any illegal drug into their body, one or more times during their life.