A comparison of AIDS and STD knowledge between sexually active alcohol consumers and abstainers

Effective curricula should influence knowledge levels of all students, including high-risk populations. In this study, a modified version of the National Adolescent Student Health Survey was administered to a group of eighth and 10th grade students (N = 3,803) exposed to a curriculum designed to improve AIDS and STD knowledge levels. The analysis examined the influence of gender, ethnicity, alcohol use, and sexual activity as they related to AIDS and STD knowledge. Findings indicated poor knowledge scores on STD items, with no significant differences on group comparisons. Comparisons of AIDS knowledge scores indicated significant differences based on gender, ethnicity, and behavior. Females scored higher than males, whites scored higher than blacks, and abstainers from sexual activity and alcohol scored higher than their active counterparts. Results suggest current educational efforts are not equally effective. Future educational initiatives should be sensitive to group membership.