FACTS - Facing AIDS in the Community Through Sports

I am a first year medical student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and my roommate, Melissa Warriner is a first year physical therapy student at Thomas Jefferson University. If granted the Do Something grant, we would like to create an HIV/AIDS prevention and education program for middle school aged youth. An article in The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2008 stated that HIV/AIDS infection rates are “more than five times the national average” in the Greater Philadelphia Area (1). Furthermore, another study states that 34% of adolescents have had sex by the time they are in 9th grade (2). Thus, by targeting middle-school aged children and providing HIV/AIDS education through different activities, our project supports the community need for earlier intervention in order to limit the spread of HIV infections. We based the need of our project off of the healthypeople.gov website which states concrete goals to improve overall health across the United States. The 2nd goal of Healthy People 2010 is aimed at “eliminating health disparities among different segments of the population”. A current health disparity in the Greater Philadelphia Area is the increased rate of HIV infection, thereby supporting the need for our project in the community. Moreover, the 13th Objective for HP2010 is to prevent HIV infection and its related illness and death. Our project will specifically address Objective 13-5 “to reduce the number of cases of HIV infection among adolescents and adults” by educating these adolescents. Many current organizations educate teenagers of high school age and older about the prevention of STDs, and ways to practice safer sex. Our research suggests that it is no longer reasonable to assume that younger children are not participating in sexual activities. Therefore, it has become important to educate the younger population about safer sexual decisions, including the use of condoms. This part of our education will directly support the Healthy People 2010 Objective 13-6, which is to “increase the proportion of sexually active persons who use condoms”. As stated in the HP2010 document, “When used consistently and correctly, latex condoms are highly effective in preventing HIV transmission. Increased use of latex condoms is essential for slowing the spread of HIV infection.” (3) 1. Philadelphia Inquirer Examines HIV/AIDS In Philadelphia. (2008). Medical News Today: Health News. Retrieved January 18, 2010, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/127277.php. 2. Connect with Kids, Helping parents & teachers raise resilient kids with character, Middle School Sex (2009, April), Tips for parents. Retrieved January 2, 2010, from http://www.connectwithkids.com/tipsheet/2009/435_apr29/thisweek/090429_sex.html. 3. Healthy People 2010. (2008). Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Retrieved January 18, 2010, from http://healthypeople.gov/