YRBS 20-year trends showed racial/ethnic disparities in school-based HIV/AIDS education among adolescents

Background

Approximately fifty thousand individuals are diagnosed with HIV in the US per year. Research shows that Hispanics and African-Americans are severely affected by HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, one in four new HIV infections are within the ages of 13-24. As such, HIV/AIDS educational programs are offered in high schools to address the HIV epidemic. This study identifies various trends (such as racial/ethnic similarities and differences) that exist between high school boys and girls who report never having HIV/AIDS education in school. 

Methods

The methodology involves secondary data analysis of the 1991 to 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey comparing trends among gender, racial/ethnic (particularly White, African-American and Hispanic) and grade differences among high school individuals who had never had HIV/AIDS infection education at their school.

Results

• Boys and girls in high school reported similar proportions of being taught about HIV/AIDS in school.
• The 20-year trends among White adolescents who reported never being taught about HIV/AIDS in school appear nearly ‘U’ shaped, while, Hispanic and African American adolescents had ‘W’ shaped trends.
• Excluding Hispanic 10^th and African-American 12^th graders, the proportions of other adolescents who reported not being taught about HIV/AIDS in school sharply increased since 2007.
• In general, higher proportion of Hispanic adolescents reported never being taught about HIV/AIDS in school followed African-American and Whites respectively.

Discussion

The 20-year longitudinal trends show that Hispanic boys and girls reported the least being taught about HIV/AIDS in school. Cultural/religious reasons may contribute to such trends. Cultural-sensitive sexuality education in schools is therefore recommended.