Knowledge, perceived risk, and beliefs about AIDS among high school and college students in South Carolina.

Our study reveals that high school and college students in South Carolina have a fairly high level of knowledge about AIDS. High school students have lower level of knowledge about AIDS than college students. High school students also have higher perception of risk of acquiring HIV infection and do not consider the AIDS epidemic as a very serious health threat. School-based AIDS education is critically needed to increase students' knowledge about AIDS and to develop skills which will help them adopt and maintain risk prevention behaviors. Physicians play a very important role in developing effective school-based AIDS education and prevention programs.