1 in 5 Sexually Active Teens Have Been Tested for HIV

About one in five sexually active high school students have ever been tested for HIV, according to a MedPage article on findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Researchers found that testing was more common among students who reported a behavior that increases their risk of acquiring the virus. The findings were derived from a 2009 survey given to a representative sample of students in grades 9 through 12.

All told, 16,410 students returned usable data, and slightly less than half—7,591—reported ever having had sexual intercourse. Among those, only 22.6 percent reported that they had been tested at any time for HIV (excluding tests done for blood donation).

The CDC researchers cautioned that the study was cross-sectional, so that the relationship between testing and risk behaviors could not be established. They also noted the data are self-reported and could have built-in biases.

The survey did not ask about same-sex behavior, which omits an important risk group, and the results only apply to high schoolers.

To read the MedPage article, visit: http://www.medpagetoday.com/HIVAIDS/HIVAIDS/30472.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!