Recorded presentation

Janet Flores, MPH, Dept. Health Promotion and Education, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, 24951 N. Circle Drive, Nichol Hall, room 1511, Loma Linda, CA 92350, 9095588386, jflores@sph.llu.edu, Jerry W. Lee, PhD, Dept. of Health Promotion and Education, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Nicol Hall Room 1511, Loma Linda, CA 92350, and Susanne B. Montgomery, PhD, MPH, Dept. of Health Promotion & Education, Loma Linda University, School of Public Health, Nicol Hall Room 1511, Loma Linda, CA 92350.

After twenty years of nationwide public HIV prevention campaigns, HIV and STDs remain major health problems for adolescents in the U.S. Reduction of adolescent STDs is a national health priority, and parents, schools, and medical providers have been enlisted to educate teens. However, research indicates that school-based STD/HIV instruction is not universal, instruction does not come early enough for younger sexually experienced students, and that parents and medical providers are less likely than schools to educate teens about STD/HIV. In this study we assess schools, parents, and medical providers as STD/HIV educators of adolescents, and determine the impact of single and multiple sources of STD/HIV prevention information on adolescent sexual risk behaviors. High school and alternative school students in one Southern California school district were surveyed with the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS)questionnaire and a local community addendum. There were 550 respondents, 60% Latino, 18% African American, 22% White, 58% females, a mean age of 16 years, and 55% experienced in sexual intercourse. 86% of students reported HIV/AIDS instruction in schools, 55% STD/HIV discussions with parents, and 30% STD/HIV discussions with medical providers. We examine the association of teen exposure to schools, parents, and medical providers as sources of STD/HIV information, with risk and protective sexual behaviors. Results provide local education and public health officials additional information on which to plan and base programs aimed at educating vulnerable sexually active youth about STDs and HIV.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session, participants will be able to describe the association of adolescent exposure to schools, parents, and medical providers as sources of STD/HIV information, with adolescent sexual risk and protective behaviors.

Keywords: Adolescents, STD Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation