title: HIV/AIDS knowledge and self-esteem among adolescents.
abstract: The incidence of HIV/AIDS is rapidly increasing among adolescents and young adults with some studies linking sexual risk taking and self-esteem. A convenience sample of 39 ethnically diverse adolescents, ages 14-18, participated in a pilot study designed to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge and to build self-esteem. Adolescents selected from two centers in California completed the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and the Student Health Questionnaire (SHQ) before beginning and after completing a program of six 2-hour educational sessions. These sessions focused on HIV/AIDS knowledge and building self-esteem. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention and transmission increased by 2096 from pretest to posttest. Practitioners addressing the needs of adolescents should focus on in-depth information regarding HIV/AIDS, especially in the area of prevention strategies and cultural factors influencing levels of self-esteem.
authors.affiliation: California State University, Fresno, USA.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Oxley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology