The focus of the study was to explore to what degree culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS curriculum and materials were perceived as important by African-American students. Students selected for the research (N=121) were from a high school in San Bernardino, California, an area that represents a multiethnic population. Frequency descriptions and bivariate corrrelations were conducted to analyze the data. Trends found in this study indicated African-Americans did not perceive cultural sensitivity as an important aspect of HIV/AIDS education, and correlations between the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM) score of African-Americans and their perceptions of the need for culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS education materials were non-significant. Outcomes of this study suggest a more defined meaning of "cultural sensitivity" and "culturally sensitive" materials as it pertains to HIV/AIDS education.

In the San Bernardino City Unified School District, Positive Prevention: HIV/STD Prevention Education for California Schools Grades 7-12, Second Edition (Positive Prevention) by Clark & Ridley (2000) is used as the curriculum for ninth grade. In evaluating the curriculum, it is of key importance to first determine if this curriculum is being taught as it was designed, or with fidelity. Fidelity is affected by the comfort, confidence, competence and commitment of the personnel presenting the curriculum.