Educating People at Risk for AIDS

GAO discussed efforts to disseminate information on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) to minority communities, intravenous drug users, and youth. GAO evaluated prior medical research efforts and found that an effective AIDS education campaign should: (1) target precise groups to inform them about the disease through sources they trust and respect; (2) consider why the targeted group needs AIDS education; (3) use specialized media such as radio, television, newspapers, brochures, bus posters, and billboards; (4) cite modes of transmission for intravenous drug users but emphasize modes of nontransmission among young children in order to dispel unfounded fears; (5) provide the skills for behavior changes needed to reduce risks; (6) include information on the degenerative and fatal nature of the illness; and (7) specify the intended outcome of its effort to educate the public about AIDS.