School-based HIV/AIDS education, risky sexual behaviors, and HIV testing among high school students in the United States

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the practical value of HIV/AIDS education among at-risk adolescents in the United States. Data were drawn from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System spanning students in grades 9-12 who have engaged in sexual intercourse. A multivariate hierarchical logistic regression analysis was employed to test: (1) the individual effects of school-based HIV/AIDS education and risky sexual behaviors on the probability of HIV testing and (2) the interaction effects to estimate the degree to which the education effect varied by specific risky sexual behavior. The results indicated that students who engaged in risky sexual activities and received HIV/AIDS education were more likely to test for HIV compared to those who did not receive HIV/AIDS education. The relationship between education and HIV testing also varied according to the number of recent sexual partners. The findings have policy and practice implications. Specifically, HIV/AIDS education that promotes HIV testing should be encouraged particularly with the high-risk student population.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS education
• HIV testing
• risky sexual behaviors
• multiple sex partner