HIV and AIDS among adolescents in the United States: increasing risk in the 1990s

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are growing problems among U.S. adolescents. By examining recent data on AIDS surveillance and HIV seroprevalence, surveys on teenagers' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors related to HIV/AIDS, key treatment issues, and barriers to prevention, this manuscript reviews the problem and proposes possible ways of combating it. African American youth have the highest rates of AIDS and white youth the lowest. However, the largest number of AIDS cases overall has been recorded in white males, reflecting relatively high case rates in boys with hemophilia and in young male homosexuals. Predominant HIV risk factors for adolescents are unprotected sex and/or sharing injection drug equipment with an infected partner. Relatively high rates of HIV infection in adolescent females may indicate their greater physiological vulnerability than adult females to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Data from HIV seroprevalence studies suggest a substantially increased heterosexual epidemic in the 1990s, especially in large east coast cities and southeastern rural areas where drug use and/or STDs are highly prevalent. More comprehensive prevention and treatment services are needed to prevent ongoing expansion of HIV infection and AIDS in the adolescent age group.