Floridians' perceptions of AIDS transmission. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Floridians' perceptions of AIDS transmission.

Abstr Gen Meet Am Soc Microbiol. 1994;94:156 (abstract no. E-74). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASM94/94313069
Ganguly R; Vincent A; Sinnott JT; Hoecherl S; University of South Florida.

Abstract: AIDS transmission is heavily influenced by behavior, attitudes and knowledge about the disease among those at risk. This study is based upon the 1991 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data which included a module of questions about AIDS transmission and several demographic variables. Through a random digit dialing method, 2,246 residents > or = 18 years of age were interviewed. Data were weighted to age, sex, and race-specific population count of the state and for the individual respondent's probability of selection. Floridians (89.0%) responded that the HIV virus can be transmitted in utero. Over one quarter of those surveyed (26.0%) believed that condom use is very protective in preventing AIDS transmission. Three of four subjects (75%) thought that they could contract the disease from a doctor. When asked if it was possible to get AIDS from donating blood, nearly half of the respondents (49.1%) said Yes. In general, correct responses were statistically linked to higher income, younger age, higher education and white race (alpha = .05). Thus Floridians might be reluctant to donate blood, fear physician contact and overestimate the protective value of condoms. Health education measures will be necessary to correct these significant misconceptions among Floridians regarding transmission of AIDS.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION Condoms Demography Female Florida Human HIV Interviews *Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Male Random Allocation Risk Factors Sex Behavior ABSTRACTKWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/epidemiology/KWDtransmissioncondomsdemographyfemalefloridahumanhivinterviewsKWDknowledge,attitudes,practicemalerandomallocationriskfactorssexbehaviorabstract
941030
M94A0885

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