Attitudes about AIDS education and condom availability among parents of high school students in New York City: a focus group approach
Rafferty, Y.; Radosh, A.
Aids Education and Prevention Official Publication of the International Society for Aids Education 9(1): 14-30
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0899-9546 PMID: 9083588 Document Number: 481205
This paper describes parents' views of the New York City Public High School's AIDS Education and Condom Availability Program. It presents findings from 12 focus groups with 81 parents of students at 6 representative high schools. Focus groups were conducted as part of an independent, comprehensive 3-year evaluation of the programme, consisting of both qualitative and quantitative components. Participants were mostly supportive of the program, citing intense concern about AIDS among adolescents, fear that teenagers do not adequately perceive themselves as being vulnerable, and personal experiences with infected relatives and friends. In contrast to the image of irate parental opposition frequently portrayed by the media, the focus group findings suggest a substantial degree of support for school-based condom availability programs and offer policy makers some concrete reasons for that support. At the same time, criticisms raised by parents, particularly regarding the lack of a role provided for them in the development of the programme or in the ongoing implementation of the programme, need to be heard by school boards and policy makers. Furthermore, although it is true that some parents questioned the involvement of schools in issues like AIDS and condom availability, it is also true that other parents criticized the schools for not doing a thorough enough job in responding to the AIDS crisis.