New CDC Reports Reveal Trends in HIV Infection Rates and HIV Education
August 8, 2008 - A breakthrough technology is allowing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to obtain the clearest picture on HIV infection rates to date. According to the new surveillance system, approximately 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006. Analysis suggests that the epidemic has been roughly stable since the late 1990s, but the number of new infections remains unacceptably high, according to the CDC.
Results also show disparities in the prevalence of HIV infection. Currently, blacks are more severely and disproportionately affected by HIV than any other racial/ethnic group in the U.S., and more infections occur among young people under 30 (aged 13-29) than any other age group.
These findings highlight ongoing challenges and the urgent need to expand effective and culturally- and age -appropriate HIV prevention programs and policies. And, given the fact that HIV is an epidemic primarily of young people, there is a heightened need to reinforce HIV prevention in schools.
So how are Schools Dealing with HIV Prevention and Infection?
There is some good news on the school front: a new CDC report shows that, during 1991-2007, the percentage of U.S. high school students who ever had sexual intercourse decreased 12% and, among students who were currently sexually active, the prevalence of condom use increased 33%.
However, these changes in risk behaviors were not observed in some subgroups. Also, no changes were detected in the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors from 2005 to 2007, and many students still engaged in behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection and STDs.
But just how have schools been dealing with HIV/AIDS? Another CDC report shows that there is still room for improvement. The analysis sought to determine the prevalence and extent of HIV prevention education and the prevalence of HIV infection policies among public secondary schools. Results indicate that, in 2006, the majority of high schools included some HIV prevention education in a required health education course, but few taught all 11 topics related to HIV prevention. In addition, approximately half of schools had a policy regarding students or staff members with HIV infection or AIDS, and, notably, the median percentage of schools with such a policy has decreased since 1996.
According to the CDC, to help reduce HIV-related risk behavior and protect the rights and health of HIV-infected students and school staff, schools need to increase efforts to teach all HIV prevention topics as well as implement policies regarding students and staff with HIV infection.
For more information on HIV education, programs, and policies, please visit NSBA’s School Health Programs.
Sources: “Estimates of New HIV Infections in the United States,” CDC HIV/AIDS Facts, August 2008; “Trends in HIV- and STD-Related Risk Behaviors among High School Students, United States, 1991-2007,” MMWR Weekly, CDC, August 1, 2008; and “HIV Prevention Education and HIV-Related Policies in Secondary Schools – Selected Sites, United States, 2006,” MMWR Weekly, CDC, August 1, 2008.