Needs of Rural Schools regarding HIV Education

Abstract

A comprehensive literature review revealed that rural schools, although they tend to resist sex education, are experiencing growing numbers of IV drug users, pregnant teenagers, and sexually transmitted diseases. Through sexual activity and IV drug use, rural teenagers are placing themselves at risk for HIV/AIDS. The relationship between teen sexual behavior and their level of self-esteem has been well established, as have problems with traditional approaches to sex education. This article outlines factors in effective sex education programs and explains that sex education, in isolation, is not a deterrent. Problems specific to rural areas are emphasized in the article as are the necessity of rural-oriented approaches. Examples of viable methods of integrating HIV education into rural schools and community life are provided.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Buie,

(1987). Teen pregnancy: It's time for the schools to tackle the problem. Phi Delta Kappan, 737–739.

Buie,

(1987) Pregnant teenagers: A new view of an old solution. Community Education Today, 14(6), 4–5.

Centers for Disease Control. (1989, April 14). Update: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - United States, 1981–1988. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, pp. 29–35.

English,

(1987, November/December). Adolescents and AIDS: Legal and ethical questions multiply. Youth Law News, pp. 1–6.

Helge,

, & Paulk,

(1989). HIV/AIDS education in rural schools in the U.S.: Enough of the right stuff? Journal of Rural and Small Schools, 4(1), 30–35.

Helge,

(1988). Serving at-risk students in rural America. Teaching Exceptional Children, 20(4), 16–18.

Jolidon,

(1989, June 9–11). Not easy at all. U.S.A. Weekend, pp. 6–7.

Jorgansen,

(1981). Sex education and the reduction of teenage pregnancies: Prospects for the 1980s. Journal of Early Adolescence, 41–42.

Keller et al. (1988, December 23). The sexual behavior of adolescents and risk of AIDS. JAMA, p. 3586.

10.

Kenney,

A. M.

(1987). Teenage pregnancy - An issue for schools. Phi Delta Kappan, 68(10), 728–736.

11.

Kirby,

(1984). An evaluation of programs and their effects: Executive summary. Santa Cruz, CA: Network Publications.

12.

Knorr,

(1989, May 30). Drugs, sex are teens' top concerns. U.S.A. Today, p. D-1.

13.

National Institute for Adolescent Pregnancy and Family Services of the Center for Research in Human Development and Education. (1988, January). State responses to the teenage pregnancy crisis. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University.

14.

Paulk,

(1985). Comparison of the effects of confluent vs. traditional contraceptive education on young peoples knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, Santa Barbara.

15.

Paulk,

(1989, May). Recommendations for high risk prevention programming in Washington Region 3. Washington Region 3 HIV/AIDS Service Network Document.

16.

Rotherman-Borus , & Koopman . (in press). AIDS and adolescents. In Lerner,

Peterson

, and Brooks-Gunn (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Adolescence. New York: Garland Press.

17.

Samels,

(1989). Some girls. [Film No. VHS 9062]. Boston, MA: Fanline Productions.

18.

Shalwitz,

(1988). AIDS/HIV infection prevention and education. Unpublished manuscript. San Francisco, CA: Dept. of Public Health.

19.

Staff. (1986, September). The broader challenge of teen pregnancy prevention, CDF Reports, 8(5), pp. 1, 6, 8.

20.

Staff. (1989, May 16). U.SA. Today, pp. D-1, D-2.

21.

Woller,

(1989, January 20). Teen sex: It's a rural problem too. U.S.A. Today, p. D-1.

22.

Zelnik,

, & Kim,

(1982, May/June). Sex education and its association with teenage sexual activity, pregnancy, and contraceptive use. Family Planning Perspectives, p. 117.