Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117488

Amanda Tanner, MPH, Michael Reece, PhD, MPH, Laurie Legocki, MS, and Maresa Murray, PhD. Sexual Health Research Working Group, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, HPER 116, Bloomington, IN 47405, 812-856-0352, aetanner@indiana.edu

Background: Currently, young people in the United States are acquiring HIV/AIDS at an alarming rate, with an estimated half of new HIV cases occurring among people under the age of 25 years old (CDC, 2002). Many students choose to ask personnel at their school questions they have about sexuality-related issues, including questions about HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and pregnancy. Therefore, schools have emerged as a vital location for providing sexuality information. Methods: Using an Internet-based questionnaire, data were collected from 400 public school teachers, counselors, and nurses in Indiana. Data were analyzed to examine the different sexuality-related questions public school personnel receive from their students. Findings: The findings indicate that students ask educators a variety of sexuality-related questions. Of the 495 most frequently asked questions, most were about pregnancy (26.2%), HIV/AIDS and other STIs (13.4%), general anatomy and development (10.5%), relationships (8.9%), values and perceptions (8.9%), and homosexuality and gender issues (7.3%). School personnel indicated varying degrees of comfort responding to these questions. Conclusions: Adolescents questions about sexuality present “teachable moment” to provide students with important information about sexual health issues, including HIV/AIDS and other negative and positive sexual health outcomes. Public school personnel are in a unique position to be able to offer students sexuality-related information to potentially positively impact their sexual health, including the avoidance of potential negative health outcomes, such as HIV/AIDS, other STIs, and unplanned teen pregnancy.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Identify the most common sexuality-related questions that public school personnel receive from their students
• Articulate some of the issues surrounding the global trends of adolescent HIV/AIDS infections and its correlation with school sexuality education.
• Discuss the behavioral implications for the sexual health of students, including issues around HIV/AIDS.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.