Background: Health literacy evolved from a standard of English language proficiency designed to promote patient compliance into an inferential for promoting positive health decision-making and health outcomes. In turn, the United States relegated health literacy as a national strategy to improve personal health and health care outcomes as well as…

Background: In 2007, legislation was proposed in 24 states and the District of Columbia for school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine mandates, and mandates were enacted in Texas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Media coverage of these events was extensive, and media messages both reflected and contributed to controversy surrounding…

The decision to mass immunize the public against Swine Flu was based on odds that had been calculated from variables of unknown magnitude. (JD)

Discusses how to decide who should know about HIV-infected students, presenting national guidelines for helping make the decision. Suggestions for actual policy implementation focus on developing a plan for decisions, determining who else needs information, and deciding what to do when parents and schools disagree on who should know. (SM)

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are the most pervasive, destructive, and costly communicable disease problems facing America's youth. The need for and appropriateness of school-based STD education, some elements of high-quality STD education, and strategies for dealing constructively with controversy are discussed. (JN)