Students teaching AIDS to students: addressing AIDS in the adolescent population

Adolescents are at high risk for developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) because of their sexual curiosity and exploration, drug experimentation, and lack of knowledge. At present, the only way to reduce this risk is through education. In an effort to increase AIDS education among adolescents, a program called Students Teaching AIDS to Students (STATS) is proposed. The goal of this project is to help train medical students to become AIDS educators in the schools, churches, and youth organizations of their local communities. The project involves preparation and distribution of a package of materials which can be used by medical students to initiate a STATS program. The package consists of a manual which explains the essentials of starting a youth health education project, suggests how to gain approval for the project within the community, and contains curriculums with basic AIDS information and exercises. The curriculum material is tailored for presentation to students over two school-class periods on separate days and contains age-appropriate information. Another component of the package is the slide show tailored to explain STATS to school boards, parent groups, and the leaders of other youth organizations. A video tape to help answer difficult questions put by students has been selected to be part of the curriculum for school grade levels 7 to 12. These materials are geared to facilitate the start of a successful AIDS education program for adolescents.