The youth is a vulnerable population to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, as they demand freedom for their emancipation and, as a consequence, risk behaviors. This study compares adolescents from different socio-cultural backgrounds (public - diurnal and nocturnal - and private schools) about their Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome communication context, knowledge, risk behavior concerning Human Immunodeficiency Virus and attitudes towards the preservative. A survey was applied to a 1 386 high school student's sample. The environment of the students from the nocturnal period is more similar to the adult's; even though they show positive attitudes, they are not as positive as the diurnal students. They also showed more problems regarding the knowledge of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, which is related to their less positive attitudes towards the preservative and intention to use , lower frequency of use and more fear of acquiring the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. This group's risky behavior associated to cognitive and environmental indicators show us its greater vulnerability regarding the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
AIDS; School; Vulnerability
