Evaluation of the effect of school-based education on adolescents' AIDS knowledge and attitudes

To measure the effect of school-based education on adolescents' AIDS knowledge and attitudes, we conducted surveys in two high schools and compared them to a baseline survey conducted in the same schools the previous year. One month before the follow-up survey, students in one of the two schools (the intervention school) had received a two-day education program about AIDS; students in the other (control) school had received no specific AIDS education. Students in both schools showed increases in AIDS knowledge between the baseline and follow-up surveys. Students in the intervention school were more likely than students in the control school to answer questions correctly about the safety of blood donation (82% vs 73%) and the possibility of HIV transmission from a former intravenous drug user (85% vs 67%); they were also less likely than students in the control school to believe persons with AIDS should have certain restriction on their activities. We conclude that while students' level of knowledge about AIDS and HIV has been improving over time even without intervention, specific education programs can still transmit important information, including information that is necessary to prevent or change risky behaviors.