Abstracts of dissertations available on microfilm or as xerographic reproductions.

"The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current levels of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of seventh and eighth grade students in WhitmanCounty, Washington. This was done to form baseline data on seventh grade students and to determine if a significant difference existed between Whitman County eighth grade students and previously nationally surveyed eighth grade students. A modified portion of the National Adolescent School Health Survey was used to collect this data. The participants in the study were seventh and eighth grade students from eight Whitman County public schools. Four null hypotheses were tested at the .01 and .05 levels of significance. Analyses of the data indicated that significant differences did exist in the areas of at-risk behavior, AIDS transmission, AIDS prevention, and diagnosis and prognosis of AIDS. All four null hypotheses were rejected"--Document.

There hasn't been a resource to inform readers about the HIV risk confronting our adolescent population--until now! In Adolescents and AIDS, leading researchers in health, medicine, sociology, and psychology describe the risks to this vulnerable population. Divided into three parts (epidemiology, prevention/risk reduction, and policy), this comprehensive book addresses not only adolescents in general, but includes specific chapters on high-risk populations such as minority, incarcerated and homeless youth. The authors explore the data and theoretical underpinnings necessary for designing and implementing effective risk-reduction and prevention programs by approaching the AIDS epidemic as a social and developmental crisis that adolescents are ill-prepared to address. While proposing appropriate theoretical models for behavior change, the book also evaluates the effectiveness of various intervention strategies ranging from school-based programs to mass-media approaches and offers public policy recommendations for intervening for this population. Health professionals, researchers, policy analysts, clinicians, counselors, and students will find this timely text a valuable resource.

This is the first comprehensive review and examination of the effectiveness of behavioral interventions to reduce HIV-related high-risk behaviors. It describes current theoretical models and emprical studies of behavioral interventions; details the state-of-the-art of behavioral intervention strategies for high-risk populations; and identifies limitations and gaps in prior research and discusses implications for future investigations. This vital text will help researchers and clinicians plan, develop, and evaluate behavioral change approaches to HIV prevention.

This Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the theories, methods and approaches for reducing HIV-associated risk behaviors. It represents the first single source of information about HIV prevention research in developed and developing countries. It will be an important resource for students, researchers and clinicians in the field.