AIDS Education: The Rhode Island Experience

AIDS prevention, by public school education, is designed to change knowledge, attitudes, and future behavior. This study evaluated the impact of a state-mandated educational program on a sample of 2709 adolescents. Changes from pre to posttest were evaluated using standardized change scores and comp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health education & behavior 1991, Vol.18 (2), p.195-206
Main Authors: Brown, Larry K., Barone, Vincent J., Fritz, Gregory K., Cebollero, Pedro, Nassau, Jack H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - prevention & control
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - transmission
Adolescent
Adolescents
AIDS/HIV
Biological and medical sciences
Educational Programs
Elementary Secondary Education
Female
Health Education - standards
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Immunodeficiencies
Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies
Immunopathology
Information Dissemination
Male
Medical sciences
Program Evaluation
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Public Schools
Rhode Island
School Health Services - standards
Sex Education
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:AIDS prevention, by public school education, is designed to change knowledge, attitudes, and future behavior. This study evaluated the impact of a state-mandated educational program on a sample of 2709 adolescents. Changes from pre to posttest were evaluated using standardized change scores and comparisons between the experimental and a delayed education control group were made. The experimental group, but not the control group, changed to a statistically significant degree (p < .001). They became more knowledgeable, endorsed slightly more tolerant attitudes, and reported an increased intention to avoid intercourse as a means of AIDS prevention. The extent of change was substantially greater for knowledge than for attitudes. Age, gender, and AIDS-related anxiety were found to be significant variables in the AIDS education process. The modest changes observed emphasize that the dissemination of AIDS information by public schools is only the first step in changing adolescent behavior as a means to AIDS prevention and that other, additional approaches are needed.
ISSN:0195-8402
1090-1981
1552-6127
2732-5601
DOI:10.1177/109019819101800205