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Are Adolescents Getting Smarter About Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome?: Changes in Knowledge and Attitude Over the Past 5 Years

Are Adolescents Getting Smarter About Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome?: Changes in Knowledge... Abstract • A survey was administered to 1543 adolescents from southeastern Wisconsin to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding acquired immmunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and persons with the disease. Responses were compared with those of other studies involving adolescents using identical or similar test items. Results of the study demonstrate that knowledge of AIDS and of the modes of human immunodeficiency virus transmission have increased dramatically over the past 5 years. Ninety-eight percent of high school students in this study understood the modes of transmission and that merely touching a person with AIDS will not transmit the virus. However, results also revealed that many negative biases remain toward people who have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Forty-five percent of the students believed that homosexuals and intravenous drug users were "getting what they deserve." Recommendations are made that future educational efforts focus on changes in attitudes and behaviors in relation to adolescents' previously acquired knowledge of AIDS. (AJDC. 1990;144:302-306) References 1. Haffner DW. AIDS and the adolescent: education must begin now . J Sch Health. 1988;58:154-155.Crossref 2. Centers for Disease Control. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Weekly Surveillance Report, United States . Atlanta, Ga: Centers for Disease Control; December 28, 1987. 3. Helgerson SD, Peterson LR. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and secondary school students: their knowledge is limited and they want to learn . J Pediatr . 1988;81:350-355. 4. Hornsburgh CR, Douglas JM, La Force M. Preventive strategies in sexually transmitted diseases for the primary care physician . JAMA . 1987;258:815-821. 5. Brown LK, Fritz GK. AIDS education in the school: a literature review as a guide for curriculum planning . Clin Pediatr (Phila) . 1988;27:311-316.Crossref 6. Friedland GH, Klein RS. Transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus . N Engl J Med . 1987;317:1125-1135.Crossref 7. Goodwin MP. AIDS: students' knowledge and attitudes and a midwestern university . J Am Coll Health . 1988;36:214-222.Crossref 8. Landefeld CS, Chren MM, Shega J, Speroff T, McGuire E. Students' sexual behavior, knowledge, and attitudes relating to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . J Gen Intern Med . 1988;3:161-165.Crossref 9. Mann JM. AIDS: a global perspective . N Engl J Med. 1988;319:302-303.Crossref 10. Board of Trustees Report . JAMA . 1987;15: 2097-2103. 11. Coolfont Report. A PHS plan for prevention and control of AIDS and AIDS virus . Public Health Rep . 1986;101:341-348. 12. American Medical Association. The American Medical Association's program on human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . JAMA . 1987;258:1519-1520.Crossref 13. Centers for Disease Control. Appendix II: the extent of AIDS and indicators of adolescent risk . MMWR . 1988;37:11-13. 14. Francis DP, Chin J. The prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the United States . JAMA . 1987;257:1357-1366.Crossref 15. Price JH, Desmond S, Kukulka G. High school students' perceptions and misperception of AIDS . J Sch Health . 1985;55:107-109.Crossref 16. DiClemente RJ, Zorn J, Temoshok L. Adolescents and AIDS: a survey of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about AIDS in San Francisco . Am J Public Health . 1986;76:1443-1445.Crossref 17. Strunin L, Hingson R. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and adolescents: knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors . Pediatrics . 1987; 79:825-828. 18. Centers for Disease Control. HIV-related beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors among high school students . MMWR . 1988;37:717-721. 19. Goodman E, Cohall A. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and adolescents: knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors in a New York City adolescent minority population . Pediatrics . 1989; 84:36-42. 20. Haven G, Stolz J. STATS: Students Teaching AIDS to Students . Reston, Va: American Medical Student Association; 1988:1-64. 21. Kegles SM, Adler NE, Irwin CE. Sexually active adolescents and condoms: changes over one year in knowledge, attitude, and use . Am J Public Health . 1988;78:460-461.Crossref 22. Byrd J, Shapiro R, Schiedermayer D. Passive smoking: a review of medical and legal issues . Am J Public Health . 1989;79:209-215.Crossref http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Diseases of Children American Medical Association

Are Adolescents Getting Smarter About Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome?: Changes in Knowledge and Attitude Over the Past 5 Years

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References (27)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0002-922X
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1990.02150270052025
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract • A survey was administered to 1543 adolescents from southeastern Wisconsin to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding acquired immmunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and persons with the disease. Responses were compared with those of other studies involving adolescents using identical or similar test items. Results of the study demonstrate that knowledge of AIDS and of the modes of human immunodeficiency virus transmission have increased dramatically over the past 5 years. Ninety-eight percent of high school students in this study understood the modes of transmission and that merely touching a person with AIDS will not transmit the virus. However, results also revealed that many negative biases remain toward people who have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus. Forty-five percent of the students believed that homosexuals and intravenous drug users were "getting what they deserve." Recommendations are made that future educational efforts focus on changes in attitudes and behaviors in relation to adolescents' previously acquired knowledge of AIDS. (AJDC. 1990;144:302-306) References 1. Haffner DW. AIDS and the adolescent: education must begin now . J Sch Health. 1988;58:154-155.Crossref 2. Centers for Disease Control. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Weekly Surveillance Report, United States . Atlanta, Ga: Centers for Disease Control; December 28, 1987. 3. Helgerson SD, Peterson LR. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and secondary school students: their knowledge is limited and they want to learn . J Pediatr . 1988;81:350-355. 4. Hornsburgh CR, Douglas JM, La Force M. Preventive strategies in sexually transmitted diseases for the primary care physician . JAMA . 1987;258:815-821. 5. Brown LK, Fritz GK. AIDS education in the school: a literature review as a guide for curriculum planning . Clin Pediatr (Phila) . 1988;27:311-316.Crossref 6. Friedland GH, Klein RS. Transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus . N Engl J Med . 1987;317:1125-1135.Crossref 7. Goodwin MP. AIDS: students' knowledge and attitudes and a midwestern university . J Am Coll Health . 1988;36:214-222.Crossref 8. Landefeld CS, Chren MM, Shega J, Speroff T, McGuire E. Students' sexual behavior, knowledge, and attitudes relating to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . J Gen Intern Med . 1988;3:161-165.Crossref 9. Mann JM. AIDS: a global perspective . N Engl J Med. 1988;319:302-303.Crossref 10. Board of Trustees Report . JAMA . 1987;15: 2097-2103. 11. Coolfont Report. A PHS plan for prevention and control of AIDS and AIDS virus . Public Health Rep . 1986;101:341-348. 12. American Medical Association. The American Medical Association's program on human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . JAMA . 1987;258:1519-1520.Crossref 13. Centers for Disease Control. Appendix II: the extent of AIDS and indicators of adolescent risk . MMWR . 1988;37:11-13. 14. Francis DP, Chin J. The prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in the United States . JAMA . 1987;257:1357-1366.Crossref 15. Price JH, Desmond S, Kukulka G. High school students' perceptions and misperception of AIDS . J Sch Health . 1985;55:107-109.Crossref 16. DiClemente RJ, Zorn J, Temoshok L. Adolescents and AIDS: a survey of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about AIDS in San Francisco . Am J Public Health . 1986;76:1443-1445.Crossref 17. Strunin L, Hingson R. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and adolescents: knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors . Pediatrics . 1987; 79:825-828. 18. Centers for Disease Control. HIV-related beliefs, knowledge, and behaviors among high school students . MMWR . 1988;37:717-721. 19. Goodman E, Cohall A. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and adolescents: knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors in a New York City adolescent minority population . Pediatrics . 1989; 84:36-42. 20. Haven G, Stolz J. STATS: Students Teaching AIDS to Students . Reston, Va: American Medical Student Association; 1988:1-64. 21. Kegles SM, Adler NE, Irwin CE. Sexually active adolescents and condoms: changes over one year in knowledge, attitude, and use . Am J Public Health . 1988;78:460-461.Crossref 22. Byrd J, Shapiro R, Schiedermayer D. Passive smoking: a review of medical and legal issues . Am J Public Health . 1989;79:209-215.Crossref

Journal

American Journal of Diseases of ChildrenAmerican Medical Association

Published: Mar 1, 1990

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