NCJ Number
107738
Date Published
1987
Length
185 pages
Annotation
Testimony before the House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families by congressional representatives and medical and social service professionals considers the prevalence of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) among juveniles, what is known about its transmission to young children, the care required, prevention, and alternatives for assisting families with treatment costs.
Abstract
Testimony on the prevalence of AIDS among children and youth indicates that although no accurate figures are available, the increase in AIDS in the heterosexual population will inevitably mean its growth among children and youth. Much of the testimony focuses on preventive measures, including public education about how the AIDS virus is transmitted, perinatal testing and care, and premarital blood tests. Other topics covered are the identification of infected pregnant women, infants, and children and appropriate medical care for them; transmission in households, health care settings, and correctional institutions; and prevention measures in school settings, in institutional settings, and for homeless, truant, and other at-risk adolescents. The Federal role in addressing the problem is discussed.