HIV/STD PREVENTION
HIV/STD PREVENTIONHIV/AIDS Disclaimer:
This site contains HIV prevention messages that may not be appropriate for all
audiences.
GOAL
To provide age appropriate, medically accurate HIV/STD and teen pregnancy prevention education to all school-age children with an emphasis on minority populations whom are disproportional impacted, through a collaboration of the Department of Public Instruction, local school systems, higher education, state and local health departments, and community-based organization.
GUIDELINES FOR HIV/STD AND TEEN PREGNANCY
PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS
In North Carolina HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy prevention education teaches that the expected standard for all school age children is Abstinence Until Marriage. However, according to General Statute (G.S.) 115C-81 Basic Education and the North Carolina Healthful Living Standard Course of Study, the effectiveness and failure rates of condoms and other birth control methods must be taught in the seventh and eighth grades respectively.
Instruction in the use of and/or demonstration of condoms is a part of a comprehensive sexuality education program. Before a comprehensive sexuality education program is adopted, the local board of education shall conduct a public hearing and make all instructional materials available for review by parents or legal guardians for at least 30 days before the public hearing and 30 days after the hearing.
Each school year, before students may participate in any portion of an HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy prevention education program, the local boards of education shall adopt policies to provide opportunities either for parents and legal guardians to consent or for parents and legal guardians to withhold their consent to the students' participation in any or all of these programs.
SCOPE OF ADOLESCENT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR
North Carolina high school students participated in the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) that, in addition to other health related topics, assessed sexual behavior. The results of this survey provide representative data for all North Carolina high school students and reveals that 52% of all high school students and 69% of seniors had experienced sexual intercourse and 16% had sex at the age of 13 or younger (Middle School). Of the sexually active students, 16% had had sex with four or more partners and the percent of students who used drugs or alcohol before last intercourse was 21%. The more encounters and sexual partners an adolescent has without using protection the greater increased risk to exposures to sexually transmitted disease, infections, and HIV/AIDS. In 2007, 47% of the 55.5% of seniors who had sexual intercourse in the past three months did not use a condom the last time they had sex. Teen pregnancy rates have often been used as an indicator of "at risk" activities.
Additionally, in 2002, youth housed in juvenile detention centers were surveyed as part of a YRBS special project, and found many at high risk for HIV transmission. For example, 97% of those interviewed in detention centers had experienced sexual intercourse (62% before the age of 13), 73% had had four or more sexual partners, and 14% had injected illegal drugs. The survey also revealed that 11.5% of youths surveyed identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual (a question not asked on the statewide survey); 65% percent had been tested at least once for HIV and 75% had been taught about AIDS and HIV in the facility in which they were then detained (NC YRBS 2002).
ADOLESCENT HIV AND
OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES (STD)
According to Rotheram-Borus and Futterman (2000), adolescents' ages 13 to 19 are at increased risk, both behaviorally and biologically, for HIV infection; over half of all adolescents infected with HIV are likely untested and unaware of their status. Substantial morbidity and social problems among youth are the result of unsafe sex practices resulting in unintended pregnancies and STDs, including HIV infection. Nearly half of all new sexually transmitted diseases in NC occur in youth 15-24 years old.
Of all HIV disease reported diagnosis in NC, 4% of cases are among 13-19 year olds. This increases to 26% when expanded to age 29. Because there can be significant delay between infection and subsequent testing and reporting, it is felt that the age group 13 to 24 years better describes infections that likely occurred during adolescence. In 2006, 13% of new diagnoses were among 13-24 year olds. Among young people aged 13-24 years, 68% of reported HIV disease cases were a result of male-male sexual contact. This represents a 24% increase from 2002-2006 (55% to 68%).
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) (as well as teen pregnancy) are considered surrogate markers for HIV infection. Data from the North Carolina HIV/STD Prevention and Care Branch's 2006 HIV/STD Surveillance Report illustrates the scope of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, STDs treatable with antibiotics, in adolescents. If left untreated, these bacteria can lead to infertility later in life. Chlamydia is predominantly found in younger age groups. For males, the highest rates are consistently found in the 20-29 age group, followed by 13-19. For females the trend is reversed, with 13-19 year olds having the highest rates, followed by 20-29 year olds. In NC, reported cases and rates have been on the rise for all age groups, however, this is most likely a result of increased screening initiatives through the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). In 2006, the rate of Chlamydia was 1510.0 per 100,000 adolescents ages 13-19 and was 37% of all cases.
Gonorrhea is predominantly found in younger age groups, and the relative rates mirror the Chlamydia trends with respect to age. For males, the highest rates are consistently found in the 20-29 age group, followed by 13-19. Until recently, the trend for females was reversed, with 13-19 year olds having the highest rates, followed by 20 to 29 year olds. In 2006, the rate of Gonorrhea was 530.3 per 100,000 adolescents ages 13-19 and was 26% of all cases. These numbers do not include those that are infected and unaware of their status, as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are often asymptomatic (showing no symptoms). The more sexual partners an adolescent has, the more susceptible they are to diseases that have no cure, such as herpes, genital warts (found in 99% of cervical cancer patients) and HIV/AIDS.
OTHER INFORMATION
The Kaiser Family Foundation has created an interactive web-based timeline that may be helpful in reviewing the many political, scientific, cultural, and community events that have occurred over the history of the AIDS epidemic. The timeline begins with 1981 and highlights such milestones as the establishment of the first community-based AIDS service provider in the U.S., the discovery of HIV, the establishment of UNAIDS, and the history of the International AIDS Conferences.
DOCUMENTS OF IMPORTANCE
- Communicable Disease Model Policy for Students (pdf, 24kb)
- Communicable Disease Model Policy for School Employees (pdf, 25kb)
- The State of Adolescent Sexual Health, North Carolina (pdf, 246kb)
- North Carolina, 2003 Parent Opinion Survey of Public School Sexuality Education (pdf, 0kb)
- How HIV is Not Transmitted (pdf, 13kb | doc, 25kb)
- Infection Control (pdf, 32kb | doc, 28kb)
- School Policy Handout 2004 (pdf, 43kb | doc, 51kb)
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
N. C. Children's AIDS Network Community Advisory Board
The Community Advisory Board is an advocacy group for children and families affected
by HIV/AIDS which provides information on medications and treatments. There
are opportunities for YOU to be involved if you are:
- A family member of an HIV infected/affected child/adolescent
- An adolescent infected with HIV
- An interested community member
For more information contact: Mary at 252.291.71184
World AIDS Day Volunteer Recognition Banquet
The annual World AIDS Day Volunteer Recognition Banquet will be held on
Thursday, December 4, 2008. The Stephen G. Sherman Youth Award will be
determined through a high school art competition. Youth throughout the state are invited to
submit an entry. *Entries will be accepted until October 14, 2008.*
(doc, 45kb)
