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Transitions
Volume 12, No. 3,
March 2001
This Transitions is
also available in [PDF] format.
Current Research—Adolescents and HIV: the Role of the Pediatrician
A new policy statement from the American
Academy of Pediatrics notes that half of all new
HIV infections in the United States occur among youth
ages 13 to 24, and sexual transmission accounts for most
cases of HIV during adolescence. Noting that pediatricians
and other health care providers have a significant role
to play in preventing HIV transmission among youth, the
Committee on Pediatric AIDS and the Committee on Adolescence
recommend that pediatricians should:
- Provide information about HIV infection and AIDS and
the availability of HIV testing as essential components
of anticipatory guidance to all adolescent patients.
The guidance should include information about HIV prevention
and transmission as well as the implications of infection.
- Help adolescents understand the responsibilities of
becoming sexually active. Provide information on abstinence
from sexual activity and use of safer sexual
practices to reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancy and
sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Counsel
adolescents about the correct and consistent use of latex
condoms.
- Discuss HIV testing with all adolescents and encourage
HIV testing with their consent for those who are sexually
active or substance users.
- Consider the consent of the adolescent as sufficient
to provide evaluation and treatment for suspected or
confirmed HIV infection.
- Use a negative HIV test result as an opportunity to
counsel the adolescent on reducing risk behaviors.
- Help HIV-infected adolescents understand the importance
of informing their sexual partners of their potential
exposure to HIV infection. Provide this help directly
or refer the adolescent to a state or local health department's
partner referral program.
- Advocate for the special needs of adolescents for information
about HIV, access to HIV testing and counseling, and
access to HIV treatment services.
American
Academy of Pediatrics. Adolescents and human immunodeficiency
virus infection: the role of the pediatrician in prevention
and intervention. [Policy Statement] Pediatrics 2001;
107:188-190.
Transitions (ISSN
1097-1254) © 2001, is a quarterly publication of Advocates for Youth—Helping
young people make safe and responsible decisions about
sex. For permission
to reprint, contact Transitions' editor at 202.419.3420.
Editor: Sue Alford
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