Changes in economically disadvantaged adolescents' knowledge and beliefs about HIV/AIDS

The purpose of this study was to compare HIV/AIDS related knowledge and beliefs in two cohorts of economically disadvantaged adolescents (n = 132). Participants were between 15 and 21 years old, predominately African-American and Hispanic, and participants in a Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) summer program. The hypothesis was that adolescent HIV/AIDS-related knowledge would be higher in 1999 than in 1994.

A cohort of sixty-six (66) adolescents were surveyed in 1994 and another cohort of 66 adolescents was surveyed again in 1999, all participating in the JTPA program. Participants' knowledge and beliefs were assessed using the National Adolescent Student Health Survey.

A statistically significant increase in overall HIV/AIDS knowledge occurred between the two measurements. Fifty-five percent (55.6%) of the 1999 cohort believed that HIV could be contracted by donating blood, compared to 47.5% of the 1994 cohort. Belief that it is more likely to become infected with the AIDS virus through male to male sex was higher in 1999 by 2% and was 10% higher for female to female sex.

Adolescent misconceptions/misinformation, gender-based lack of knowledge, increased perception of immunity from HIV infection, and a reported reduction in health education courses were all factors in the adolescents' continued engagement in risky sexual activities. Given these findings, and that AIDS is predicted to be one of the top five causes of death among young people, increased gender- and ethnic-specific HIV intervention programs are recommended.