- A decline in 12-15 year olds’ knowledge about the dangers of HIV/AIDS
- The more young people feel in control of their health, the less likely they are to worry about HIV/AIDS
- Better understanding of sexual health is not always matched with less worry
New data from surveys across the UK reveal a decline in 12-15 year olds’ knowledge about the dangers of HIV/AIDS. Figures from 1995-2001, using a sample of 142,281 young people, show a declining trend of youngsters who think that HIV can be passed on by:
For example, in 1995 82% of 12-13 year old females compared with 59% of the same age group in 2001, said Yes - HIV can be passed on by sharing needles when taking drugs
For example, in 1995 45% of 14-15 year old females compared with 33% of the same age group in 2001, said Yes - HIV can be passed when receiving blood in the UK via a blood transfusion
For example, in 1995, 49% of 12-13 year old males compared with 36% of the same age group in 2001, said Yes - HIV can be passed when coming into contact with blood during First Aid
For example, in 1995, 77% of 12-13 year old males compared with 63% of the same age group in 2001, said Yes - HIV can be passed on by having sex without condoms
When looking at the responses to all the options, knowledge about the dangers of HIV/AIDS is greater with the females than the males in some year groups with the best knowledge with the 14-15 year old females.
Young People taking care not to get infected with HIV Data from 1995-2001 show little change in the numbers of young people that report they will take care not to get infected with HIV. For example, around 89% in 1995 compared to around 86% in 2001, said they would take care.
The Schools Health Education Unit reported in March on data from over 225,000 young people between 1993-2003 which showed that fewer 12-15 year olds reported worrying about HIV/AIDS. In 1993 up to 34% of 12-15 year olds were worried ‘quite a lot/a lot’ about this problem. This has reduced to around 7% in 2003.
We have recently explored this issue further and discovered that the more that young people feel in control of their health, the less likely they are to worry about HIV/AIDS. For example, 16% of Year 10 females who scored highest for perceived control worried at least ‘a little’ about HIV/AIDS, compared with 27% of females of the same age who scored lowest for control.