HIV/AIDS peer education: a rural health project.

This article describes a program conducted by a group of adolescents in a rural western Nebraska high school that was designed to inform their peers about the risk of HIV/AIDS. The program was funded by state and county agencies. An AIDS Task Force composed of community health leaders developed the guidelines for the program. The Task Force met annually to plan for the coming year, implement changes, and evaluate the program. A community health nurse served as the coordinator of the program and also served as a rural school nurse. A group of students called peer helpers carried out the HIV/AIDS program. Peer helpers created an awareness of HIV/AIDS with dissemination of factual information and also served as a referral resource for their peers. A number of recommendations are provided for future implementation of programs designed to help adolescents develop a healthy lifestyle.