AIDS Education: Reaching Populations at Higher Risk
PEMD-88-35
Published: Sep 16, 1988. Publicly Released: Sep 21, 1988.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO assessed the ways in which public health research could be used to provide educational messages to prevent the spread of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among drug users, minorities, and adolescents.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| If Congress passes legislation stipulating that the outcome of AIDS campaigns funded by the Department of Health and Human Services be evaluated and the results be reported to departmental officials or to Congress, such legislation should require that these reports describe progress in assessing the relative effectiveness of different components in AIDS education. These components should include, but need not be limited to, alternatives for defining the target group and handling its risk characteristics, the media employed, the information, skills, and motivators provided, and the outcomes intended under each campaign. | Customs has indicated that attempts to convince the authorizing committee to introduce an amendment have not been successful and will not be pursued. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should ensure that the plans for evaluating the department's AIDS education efforts ensure collection of data by which the relative effectiveness of different components can be assessed. |
The agency is implementing a similar evaluation effort for what GAO recommended, but is apparently unwilling to make the specific additions GAO recommended.
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AIDSAdvertisingSubstance abuseEducationHealth hazardsMass mediaMinoritiesPublic health researchPublic relationsTeenagers