AIDS의 학교 보건교육 도입에 관한 연구

A Study for the Development of a School-based Health Education of AIDS

AIDS and the spectrum of Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) infections present a monumental challenge to the health of the Korean public. In response to this special challenge, I think public education and voluntary behavior changes are the most effective measures to fight the spread of the disease. Adolescents represent a critical risk group for prevention and intervention programming. Research indicates sexually active adolescents, homosexual contact, illicit drug use are an gradually increasing. These characteristically adolescent risk-taking behaviors suggest the need for schools and communities to mobilize intervention strategies. Schools are highly efficient ways to reach a majority of young people in Korea with HIV prevention programs. These programs include substantial attention to sexual and drug use behaviors with the long term objective of a multidimensional school health program. Information resulting from risk behavior surveillance activities and guidance on school health curricula is particularly useful. What is needed for adolescents is a revamping of education to give students the critical thinking and analytic skills that allow them to apply knowledge, make decisions, and think independently. The best HIV preventive education provides young people with opportunities to learn and practice just those skills. In the early stages of HIV education were focused solely on information. Providing information is easy but unfortunately, behavior change is not that simple to activate. Information must be combined with values exploration and skilly building, including responsible decision making, negotiation, refusal, and critical thinking skills. The same knowledge, attitudes and skills needed for effective HIV prevention also prevent or reduce other risks, including other sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and alcohol or other drug use. The role of other youth serving organizations in HIV prevention is also important: parental and youth involvement is needed; it's important to presidential and governament leadership is essential to prevention education; promote integrated adolescent programs, to enhance health and education sector collaboration; and of course, we need to expand research on adolescent health and engage the media in health promotion. Among these changes, a school-based systematic health education of AIDS is certainly one of the essentials.