Factors that influence HIV/AIDS instruction in schools.

Sex education is allowed but not required in Louisiana. It is taught at the discretion of local school districts as mandated in the Local Option Sex Education Statute, Act 480. HIV/AIDS education is also optional and may be taught without incorporating sex education policies. In the present study, a survey of ninety-eight public and private schools in Louisiana was conducted to determine, among other things, the effects of sex education on HIV/AIDS instruction. Most of the responding schools reported limited HIV/AIDS instruction. Those school districts that opted to teach sex education covered more content. Units on AIDS were most often presented in science or health classes. For the majority of schools, in-service workshops for teachers and administrators were not provided. Schools with predominantly minority enrollments were less likely to devote time to HIV/AIDS education. Recommendations are made, and include (1) the adoption of local option sex education policies, (2) increased access to instructional resources (i.e., text materials and in-service workshops for teachers), and (3) increased emphasis on HIV/AIDS education in predominantly minority schools.