Public perceptions regarding the AIDS epidemic: selected results from a national poll. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Public perceptions regarding the AIDS epidemic: selected results from a national poll.

AIDS Res. 1986 Summer;2(3):253-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/87000020
Bausell RB; Damrosch S; Parks P; Soeken K

Abstract: A telephone interview of 1256 adults age 18 and over was conducted using a random digit dialing procedure. Participants were queried about their perceptions of being at risk for contracting the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), optimism-pessimism about the controllability of the epidemic, whether they take special steps to avoid catching AIDS, and how they would prioritize three possible courses of action. The sample was about evenly divided between optimism and pessimism about controlling AIDS within five years; 10% perceived they were at least at some risk of contracting AIDS (with such at risk persons overrepresented among residents in the east, among college graduates, and within the 30-39 age bracket). Forty-one percent indicated taking special steps to avoid AIDS, with higher percentages of Blacks, Hispanics, and persons under age 30 reporting such precautions. Personal preventive action was ranked first among the three possible courses of action by 51%, unlimited governmental spending to find a cure or vaccine and governmental restrictions of certain homosexual behaviors were each ranked first by about 20% of the respondents. The results also indicated that perception of being at risk mediates some opinions about AIDS.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*PSYCHOLOGY Adolescence Adult Data Collection *Disease Outbreaks Female Human Male Middle Age *Public Opinion Risk Social Perception United States JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDpsychologyadolescenceadultdatacollectionKWDdiseaseoutbreaksfemalehumanmalemiddleageKWDpublicopinionrisksocialperceptionunitedstatesjournalarticle
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Copyright © 1987 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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