Skills for the Job: Teaching young people about HIV

What kind of information and advice do young people need on HIV?
It is vital that young people understand the facts about HIV and Aids – what they are, what they do to the body, and how HIV can and cannot be passed on. It is also important to understand how HIV infection can be prevented and how to use condoms. Young people should be made aware of local sexual health clinics where they can get tested for, and access information on, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Furthermore, it is important that education on HIV encourages young people to recognise the misinformation and stigma related to HIV and the realities of living with the virus. Young people should know that while there is no cure or vaccine for HIV, people with HIV can, with the help of medication, live long and healthy lives.

Are children receiving adequate HIV education in school and youth settings?
Learning about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is one of the only compulsory parts of sex education taught within all maintained secondary schools, so young people should have some knowledge about HIV. However, good provision is patchy. In a survey of young people by the Sex Education Forum, which is hosted by the National Children’s Bureau, a quarter said they had not learned anything about HIV at school, with half saying they had not learned all they needed to. This year, there were 1,123 children and young people accessing paediatric HIV care in the UK. However, an estimated 20,000 more are affected by HIV in the family. In the adult UK population, it was estimated that 96,000 people were living with HIV at the end of 2011.

What difficulties are faced when giving advice to young people?
One of the striking things about HIV is that even when peopl