NCJ Number
124854
Journal
Social Science and Medicine Volume: 30 Issue: 3 Dated: (1990) Pages: 267-279
Date Published
1990
Length
13 pages
Annotation
There is a low incidence of HIV infection among members of school communities, and all available evidence supports the conclusion that HIV is not transmitted by everyday contacts.
Abstract
Despite this, the presence in a school community of persons infected with HIV has led to conflict and confrontation between various participants in the school community. When a school board has adopted clear policies and procedures in relation to HIV the risk of fears of many people and the risk of confrontation and conflict can be minimized. Many jurisdictions have used the comprehensive guidelines for children with HIV/AIDS in an educational setting issued by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) to formulate their own policies. This paper provides a different approach, one concerned with ethics and prefacing any HIV/AIDS policy with basic information on HIV. Their focus is on risk behaviors and the education of all members of a school community. Their approach views the total context of appropriate policies to govern the school setting including health care policies. This policy was initially prepared for the Quebec school board. Another point made by the authors is that it is necessary to deal with the emotional responses to HIV/AIDS. 1 acknowledgement, 30 references.