Establishing a system of complementary school-based surveys to annually assess HIV-related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors among adolescents.

The Division of Adolescent and School Health, Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control has responsibility for assisting national, state, and local education agencies to provide effective HIV education for youth. In fall 1987, 14 state and 9 local education agencies that serve areas with the highest cumulative incidence of AIDS cases convened to develop a common set of data items that could provide comparable information about HIV-related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors among adolescents in their respective jurisdictions over time. Surveys were administered during spring 1988 to representative samples of adolescents in each participating state and city. These education agencies will use the results from this complementary system of school-based surveys as a guide in planning HIV education, setting program priorities, allocating resources, and monitoring changes in HIV-related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors among adolescents.