Private MD News

Public schools make little progress on STD education

Category: Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Public schools have made little progress in advancing education of how to prevent unintended pregnancy and transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, which could lead to a higher incidence of positive STD tests, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report indicated that 90 percent of public secondary schools in 45 states offered some advice to students on preventing the transmission of HIV between 2008 and 2010. However, few schools added programs that would provide more specific information on preventing unintended pregnancies or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Even programs intended to improve understanding of HIV appeared to be having little effect. The report indicated that a recent public opinion poll showed that 20 percent of people believe that HIV can be transmitted by sharing a drink with an infected person.

The authors of the report pointed out that schools are in a unique position to provide young people, who face the greatest risk of receiving a positive STD test, with accurate, evidence-based information that could help them practice safer sex.