Context and content: The impact of school-leaving and school-based health education on AIDS-relevant cognitions

Conducted a survey to examine health beliefs and intentions among 690 16–28 yr olds in Dundee, Scotland, UK. The 387 16-yr-olds were classified according to their educational situation (at school vs left) and self-reports of having received AIDS/HIV-relevant health education. Both remaining in school and receiving AIDS/HIV-relevant health education had independent beneficial effects, but the effects of leaving school also interacted with sex of respondent and with amount of relevant education received prior to leaving. Males' and females' reliance on mass media and other information sources diverged once they left school, indicating that males who leave school early are most likely to disregard useful or important information regarding AIDS. Leaving school reduced the difference between males' and females' intention to use condoms with a new partner.