Teenagers' awareness of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the impact on their sexual behavior.

One hundred female teenagers attending a teenage pregnancy program were studied to determine the extent of their awareness about acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the impact of such knowledge on their sexual behavior. Ninety-eight knew that AIDS is a disease, 45 stated that it is fatal, and all knew that it can be transmitted by sexual intercourse. After becoming aware of AIDS, 59 changed their sexual habits, 41 decreased their number of sexual partners, and 13 who had not used condoms started using them. However, only seven obtained more information about their partners' sexual and social histories, and half of those who decreased their number of partners still continued relationships with more than one. The survey showed that the publicity about AIDS has resulted in a favorable change in the sexual practices of these teenagers. However, it also indicated a need for further improvement in specific areas of education, such as the value of obtaining more information about sexual partners, more awareness of the importance of multiple-partner relationships in the spread of AIDS, and more emphasis on the important role of condoms in preventing AIDS virus transmission.