Is there enough information on AIDS being given out or do people have to find it themselves?

What are the most effective ways to teach children about AIDS?

Hi. Thank you for your question.

There are plenty of places for a person to learn about HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). Some of these place include:

1) Your local health department. Health departments often have free written information about HIV and other STDs, as well as providing low cost testing for these diseases.

2) Your local AIDS/STD hotline. To find the telephone number of your local hotline, look in your local phone book, or go to The Body's AIDS Hotlines and Service Organizations webpage.

3) This website ( http://www.thebody.com/cgi/safeans.html) can also provide you with a lot of information about HIV and other STDs.

4) Children very often learn about HIV and other STDs in school. However, remember that the content of what children learn in school, and the quality of that education, varies significantly from one school system to another.

5) Your doctor can also answer your questions about HIV and other STDs. But remember that not all doctors are knowledgeable on this subject, and the level of knowledge about HIV and other STDs, varies significantly from one doctor to another.

6) Your local library is another source of AIDS and STD information.

In terms of how to teach children and teenagers about HIV and other STDs, please go to the following posts:

AIDS education for young children

Motivation for behavior change

In summary, AIDS and STD information are readily available, and can be as close as your telephone or your computer.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to call the Centers for Disease Control at 1.800.232.4636 (Nationwide).