Families as a source of AIDS information for school age children

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic, which has taken an increasingly devastating toll worldwide over the past 10 years, has highlighted the need for carefully designed, massive public education campaigns focused on prevention. Research has shown that education will be most effective if it occurs before the onset of behavior that must be prevented. Because most elementary students have not yet begun to engage in behavior that places them at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection, they are among those individuals most likely to benefit from educational efforts designed to teach preventive strategies. The family is the primary socializer in health beliefs, attitudes, and practices. This study examines the nature of communication about AIDS among school age children and their families. The findings underscore a critical deficiency in frequency of parent-child interactions about AIDS. The role of the CNS/nurse practitioner in developing educational strategies for children and their families is discussed.